PM Tarique urges BNP leaders to stand behind the government to fulfil election pledges

He says voters backed BNP’s manifesto and the party must now wage a new battle to fulfil its promises

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on BNP leaders nationwide to rally behind the government and help deliver the promises made in the party’s election manifesto, describing the post-election phase as “another war”.

Speaking on Saturday at an exchange meeting with district BNP leaders, he said the manifesto was no longer merely a party document but had become “the manifesto of the government and the people of Bangladesh”.

“Until the day before the Feb 12 election, this was the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s manifesto,” he said. “But after the election, especially after forming the government, it became the manifesto of our government and the people of Bangladesh.”

Tarique said 52 percent of voters had supported the manifesto, giving the government a mandate to act.

“We must now give our utmost to help implement everything we promised.”

The BNP chief said the party had pledged good governance, safer streets and a better educational environment.

“We told people we wanted to build a country where women, men and children could move safely.”

Referring to the BNP’s anti-government movement, he said the party had fought against “authoritarianism and fascism” while speaking out against alleged enforced disappearances, killings and repression.

“One war has ended, now another war has begun,” Tarique said. “That war is implementing the commitments we made to the people.”

Addressing party leaders, he reminded them that the election had been difficult but that voters ultimately stood beside BNP and its manifesto.

“The administration now is a BNP government,” he said. “If the BNP does not cooperate, the government will not succeed in many areas.”

The meeting began around 10:45am at the Krishibid Institution auditorium in Farmgate, bringing together leaders of BNP, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also spoke at the event presided over by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Senior leaders including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury were in attendance.