Junaid Abedin Faruk, adviser to the BNP chairperson, has urged the National Consensus Party (NCP) to take care that the reputation and respect it has gained among the public are not sullied. He made the remarks on Saturday while delivering the chief guest’s speech at a protest rally organized by the Ziaur Rahman Social Welfare Forum in front of the National Press Club.Faruk said the recent incident — which he described as deeply distressing — could and should have been resolved through direct dialogue. “Those who could have spoken with Dr. Yunus to settle the matter took no initiative,” he said, expressing regret that the episode occurred despite the presence of so many senior leaders. He called the event “unfortunate and undesirable.”

Welcoming the demands of the Unity Commission, Faruk appealed to those who are angry to return to talks. He emphasized that the allocation of party symbols is the Election Commission’s responsibility and not his concern, but warned: “Do not tarnish the respect you have earned in the eyes of the people.” He praised those who signed the July charter, saying their actions proved their genuine love for the country and their opposition to what he called the “autocratic” rule of Sheikh Hasina over the past 16 years. “We must all unite to prevent a return of Hasina’s alleged fascist rule,” he added.

Faruk also referred to the human cost of recent confrontations, mentioning the trauma suffered by the family of Elias Ali and asserting that members of the party’s student wing, volunteer corps and other activists have been subjected to repression — in some cases driven to the brink of execution. He warned of alleged conspiracies surrounding the upcoming national election scheduled for February and called for vigilance against those plots.

On the political aims of the July movement, Faruk said its principal objective was to remove Sheikh Hasina from power and to prevent her — he argued — from exploiting her father’s name or transforming the Liberation War into a personal asset. He insisted that the movement seeks to stop an unelected cadre from dominating the premiership and to defend democratic norms.