Tarique urges unity of democratic forces against fascism

He said, "The way anti-fascists sometimes adopted secret tactics to save themselves from the wrath of fascism during the fascist era, the fallen, defeated and fugitive fascist evil force is currently adopting the same tactics to obstruct the country's path toward a democratic transition."

Tarique Rahman made the remarks as the chief guest in the 'Hindu Representative Conference.' Matua Bahujan Samaj Unity Alliance organized the event at the Bangladesh Krishibid Institution auditorium.

The BNP acting chairman also called upon the interim government and all anti-fascist democratic forces to remain vigilant against the defeated fascist force.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke in the event as the chief guest, while BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy also spoke in the event. 

Tarique Rahman warned, "If the country becomes unstable, the path for the rehabilitation of the fallen, defeated and fugitive fascist evil force may be or will be smooth."

Urging sustaining the anti-fascist unity, he said, "The fallen, fugitive evil force of August 5 should not get the opportunity to destabilize the country using secret tactics under the guise of any party. The single most important strategy to be protected from the misdeeds of that secret force is to maintain and uphold anti-fascist national unity."

Tarique Rahman further stated that a principal duty of the interim government is to establish a democratic government in a fascist-free Bangladesh that is accountable and responsible to the people through the people's vote. 

He stressed that implementing any party's partisan interests is not the job of this government. For this reason, instead of applying any pressure on the government, the BNP considers registering 'Note of Dissent' in areas of disagreement to be the decent approach, reports BSS. 

Mentioning that no one was safe under the fugitive autocrat, the supreme BNP leader said, "Under the rule of the fugitive autocrat, no one was safe - be he or she Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian; right or left; believer or non-believer and from different parties and opinions. Not a single attack, including the attack on the Ramu Buddhist temple in 2012 or the attack in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria in 2016, was credibly investigated or tried."

He emphasized the necessity of establishing the rule of law to ensure the security of all citizens, saying, "BNP believes that neither minority nor majority identity can guarantee our security without justice and the rule of law in the country. Only justice and the rule of law can ensure the security of every citizen in the country."

In his speech, Mirza Fakhrul said, "The opportunity created after the July uprising to build a new Bangladesh is one where we can truly ensure a non-communal country, protect the rights of all ethnicities and religions, and guarantee the rights of all people in applying their rights and in the economy and politics. For this reason, we want to build a truly non-communal, progressive, and democratic Bangladesh, forgetting the bitter past."

Convener of the Matua Bahujan Samaj Unity Alliance Somnath De presided over the event. Member Secretary and Spokesperson Kapil Krishna Mondal moderated the event while Joint Convener Somen Shah and Chairman of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Welfare Front Babu Bijon Kanti Sarkar, among others.