Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday expressed concern over the interim government鈥檚 reported decision in principle to provide a humanitarian corridor for Myanmar鈥檚 Rakhine State without informing the people or consulting with political parties.
He said that such sensitive matters related to sovereignty should be decided by the elected national parliament, which would reflect the will of the people, he said.
He made it clear that the interim government must prioritise the interests of the country鈥檚 citizens over foreign interests.
He was addressing virtually a workers鈥� rally organised by the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal in front of the party central office at Nayapaltan in the capital to mark May Day.
The BNP leader called for a specific roadmap for the upcoming national election and accused a section of the interim government of deliberately fostering conflict among anti-fascist political parties by creating division between reforms and elections.
鈥楾o establish a government that is accountable to the people's vote in a fascism-free Bangladesh, the BNP and other democratic political parties in Bangladesh have continued to provide unconditional support to the interim government. However, the democracy loving people believe that it is not logical to continue supporting the interim government indefinitely,鈥� Tarique said.
He stated that preventing the rise of any dictatorial regime in the future was crucial, and, in this context, establishing an accountable government through people's vote was seen as a vital step.
Tarique said that if any country had fallen under dictatorship or fascism, people's revolution or uprising was the only way to change such a government.
An interim government may be formed in such a situation and the special government is not illegal, but they can never replace a government elected through the direct votes of the people, he added.
Tarique said that fascism or dictatorship was not explicitly defined in the country鈥檚 constitution or laws.
Fascism or dictatorship emerges when laws are disregarded, particularly when an individual or group begins to view themselves as the sole indispensable authority and imposes unilateral decisions, he said.
He stressed the importance of preventing any hidden desire of any quarter to extend power without elections and called for the establishment of a government formed through the direct votes of the people and a national parliament accountable to the country鈥檚 citizens.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the country remained trapped in a politically abnormal situation despite having ousted a 鈥榯errible fascist force鈥� through a student-led mass uprising.
鈥極ur aspiration is to form a government and a parliament through the votes of our people. But we have not yet been able to achieve that,鈥� he said.
Fakhrul said that Bangladesh鈥檚 very existence now depended on advancing democracy.
鈥楾he problems of farmers, workers, and the people can only be solved through the establishment of a democratic system,鈥� he said.
Regarding corridor for humanitarian aid to Myanmar鈥檚 Rakhine, Fakhrul urged the interim government for not making any agreements ignoring political parties or the will of the people.
鈥楶lease, do not make any agreements that would go against the interests of Bangladesh,鈥� he added.
Although the workers rally was scheduled to begin at 2:00pm, groups of leaders and activists arrived in small processions from Dhaka and surrounding districts from the morning.
A festive atmosphere surrounded the event, with many attendees sporting colourful caps and t-shirts, carrying banners and beating drums.
Ahead of the formal programme, artists from the Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha entertained the crowd with musical performances.
Popular singers including Rumana Morshed Kanak Chapa and Mousumi Chowdhury were among those who took the stage.
During the rally, Sramik Dal chief coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas placed a 12-point demand including holding national election within the shortest possible time
At the top of his list, Shimul called for immediate national elections and the trial of Sheikh Hasina.
He demanded the reopening of closed industries, the establishment of new industries, and an end to outsourcing, pressing for the creation of permanent employment pathways.
The demands also included setting up daycare centres in all institutions, ensuring the rights to free and democratic trade unions, and bringing all workers under the coverage of national labour laws.
Maternity protection for female workers and justice for murdered or tortured workers were emphasised as key priorities.
He further called for the implementation of the Labour Reform Commission鈥檚 recommendations, the announcement of a non-discriminatory national pay scale and wage rate, and the repeal of the emergency services law and the Road Transport Act, 2018.
He also urged the government to reduce the prices of daily essentials, extend rationing systems to all workers and ensure that government agencies and embassies actively address the challenges faced by expatriate workers.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan and Sramik Dal president Anwar Hossain, among others spoke at the event.
