BNP Standing Committee member and party-nominated candidate for Dhaka-8, Mirza Abbas, has said that Bangladesh is ready to welcome BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who is returning to the country with the spirit of democracy. He stated that the democracy established by martyred President Ziaur Rahman and nurtured by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is what Tarique Rahman represents. “Tarique Rahman’s return means the return of democracy,” he said, adding that the people of the country are prepared to welcome him.
Mirza Abbas made these remarks as the chief guest at a preparatory meeting organized on Saturday (20 December) at the Sadek Hossain Khoka Community Center in Gopibagh, marking the occasion of Tarique Rahman’s homecoming.
He said that those who do not wish well for the country and do not love the nation may appear human but are, in fact, “devils in human form.” According to him, these forces opposed Pakistan in 1947 and Bangladesh in 1971, and they continue to work against peace and stability in the country. “Although they remain silent for some time, their claws and poisonous fangs re-emerge. Their activities are systematic and continuous,” he added.
Mirza Abbas further said that anti-democratic forces cannot survive in the face of democracy and warned conspirators to be cautious. He alleged that the arson attacks on institutions such as Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were carried out by enemies of the nation and said such forces must be stopped.
The BNP leader also claimed that the party had repeatedly expressed willingness to cooperate with the government through dialogue. However, he alleged that instead of accepting BNP’s cooperation, the government was aligning with anti-national elements. “When arson attacks and mob violence are taking place, where are the law enforcement agencies?” he questioned, adding that attempts are being made to unjustly blame BNP for the unrest.
He said BNP introduced multi-party democracy in the country, but some groups are misusing democracy to create mobs and make public life unbearable.
Calling on the government, Mirza Abbas demanded immediate action against mob violence. He said BNP is the protector of democracy, not its destroyer, and does not engage in politics of killing, mob violence, or enforced disappearances. “That does not mean we will sit idle,” he warned.
He noted that the people earned their rights through bloodshed and that efforts are underway to snatch those rights away. “A cry of helplessness is being heard across the country,” he said.
Drawing parallels with the past, Mirza Abbas said that just as President Zia dismantled BAKSAL to restore democracy, and as Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman have always stood by the people, BNP will continue to stand with them. “If necessary, those who attempt to destabilize the country will be resisted,” he added.
The preparatory meeting was chaired by Dhaka South BNP Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin. Other speakers included BNP-nominated candidates Sheikh Rabiul Alam (Dhaka-10), Engineer Ishraq Hossain (Dhaka-6), Hamidur Rahman Hamid (Dhaka-7), Habibur Rashid Habib (Dhaka-9), Nabi Ullah Nabi (Dhaka-5), Dhaka South BNP Joint Convener Anam Saiful Islam, Harunur Rashid, Abdus Sattar, Liton Mahmud, Saidur Rahman Mintoo, Chairman Monir, and Mosharraf Hossain Khokon, among others.