BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman said on Sunday warned that the shadow of 'malevolent forces', which he had warned about a year earlier, had become visible ahead of the national polls.
"About a year ago, I said that unseen malevolent forces were hard at work centring the upcoming election. The public has already started to notice this. The activities of this sinister force, aimed at destroying the opportunity for the people to establish their rights through an election, are slowly becoming visible," he said..
He made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a discussion to mark the party's 47th founding anniversary, titled "The Purpose and Significance of Establishing BNP", at the Engineers Institution auditorium in the capital's Ramna.
Tarique also said some political parties appeared to be putting their vested interests above the election.
"While the interim government, in a Bangladesh free from a defeated and fugitive autocrat, is walking on the path of establishing people's rights, some political parties are imposing various conditions to gain their partisan interests instead of establishing people's rights through elections. People believe they are deliberately obstructing the path to elections by imposing conditions."
In contrast, he said, the BNP has been demanding a fair and impartial election since the July uprising.
"From the very beginning, the BNP has been demanding an election be held in the shortest possible time. This is because the BNP believes the political empowerment of the people is necessary first.
"If a government formed by representatives elected through the direct votes of the people fails to fulfill public expectations, the people will have the opportunity to change the government through their votes in the next election, which is a common practice in the democratic world."
He reminded people that a national election was the prime pathway to seizing the moment and securing the people's rights.
He added that effective democratic practices were more urgent than theoretical reforms, suggesting that polls to hold an accountable government be held first.
"First, let us all unite and form a government accountable to the people of Bangladesh through an election. After that, let's start working together to meet all the legitimate demands of the political parties."
However, he stressed that this did not mean the party was against reforms.
"The BNP fully agrees on reforms in the state and politics. Because reforms are important, the BNP, even after announcing its 31-point program, has actively supported and cooperated with the reform proposals initiated by the interim government."
Tarique also lamented incidents of mob violence, stating, "No one will tolerate mob violence. Various conspiracies are starting to spread their branches ahead of the upcoming national election. We all must remain vigilant."
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the event.
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