BNP leader Ishraq Hossain has expressed solidarity with Tarek Rahman, the member secretary of Am Janata Dal, and called for official registration of his political party. Ishraq said that although many political parties are registered in Bangladesh, most of them are practically inactive. Therefore, he emphasized the need to introduce a re-registration process to identify genuine political parties. Speaking to reporters in front of the Election Commission office in Agargaon around 2 p.m. on Sunday (November 9), Ishraq expressed sympathy for Tarek Rahman and voiced his support for the party’s registration demand.

“Many so-called political parties are not functional at all,” Ishraq said. “They have no organizational activities, no political programs, and no plans or election manifestos for the people of this country. It is even questionable whether they truly believe in democracy.”

He added, “Seeing this reality, I felt I shouldn’t stay silent at home. I stand beside Tarek Rahman as a fellow fighter, and we are strongly demanding that Am Janata Dal be granted official registration without delay.”

When asked about Tarek Rahman’s allegation that two former student leaders were responsible for obstructing his party’s registration, Ishraq replied, “I won’t deny it, nor can I dismiss it. Tarek Rahman has always called truth what is true and false what is false — he speaks his mind clearly. Since they all come from the same generation and shared political platforms in the past, that could also be a factor.”

He further said, “Previously, Nur and his group faced similar difficulties; they, too, were denied registration. As a citizen, I want the Election Commission to introduce a re-registration process for all political parties — so that it becomes clear which are genuine and which are merely nominal.”

Earlier, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, along with leaders of various political parties and representatives of civil society, expressed solidarity with Tarek Rahman and joined his hunger strike program in support of the registration demand.