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Published : 07 Oct 2025, 11:26 AM
BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has stressed that if his party comes to power in the upcoming national election, its foreign policy will be predicated on the principle of “Bangladesh first”.
He also believes that the chill in relations between India and Bangladesh since the fall of the Awami League government last year should be seen as an expression of the people’s will.
In an interview with BBC Bangla released on Tuesday, Tarique was asked how a future BNP administration would seek to improve ties with neighbouring India, given that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been living in Delhi following her ouster in a student-led mass uprising last year, since when bilateral relations have been strained.
In reply, the de facto leader of the BNP said: “If they [India] choose to shelter an autocrat and thereby earn the disapproval of the people of Bangladesh, then there is nothing we can do about that.
“It is the people of Bangladesh who have decided that the relationship will remain cool. So, I must stand with my people.”
BBC Bangla then asked what the core principle of the BNP’s diplomacy would be if the party comes to power.
“The BNP has one fundamental principle -- Bangladesh first. In the field of diplomacy, the BNP’s policy is Bangladesh first."
“Our people, our country, our sovereignty -- these must remain intact. Preserving these interests above all else will guide everything we do.”
'WE WANT OUR SHARE OF THE WATER'
Bangladesh and India share more than 50 rivers, and disputes over water distribution, particularly from the Teesta River, have long been a sticking point between the neighbours.
Reiterating his party's commitment to prioritising Bangladesh’s interests above all else, Tarique insisting that issues such as water-sharing must be addressed with New Delhi.
Asked about criticisms of the previous government’s relations with India and what the BNP’s policy on ties with India would be, he said:
“I think I have already made the whole matter clear in response to your previous questions. Bangladesh first. Here, you have mentioned a particular country. It's not about that country or another country. The point is this - Bangladesh is my only concern. I will put the interests of my country’s people first, I will look after my country’s interests. I will uphold that and do whatever I can with that in mind.”
Noting that Bangladesh is bordered on three sides by India, BBC Bangla once again pressed him about how he thought Dhaka should approach its ties with New Delhi.
“Of course, I want my share of the water," he said.
Tarique also stressed the need to put an end to border killings, referring to the 2011 killing of a teenage Bangladeshi girl Felani Khatun by India’s Border Security Force, which sparked widespread outrage.
"Of course, I won't accept seeing another Felani hanging [from the barbed wire fence]. We’ll never accept it.”
When asked whether the BNP would speak out over issues such as the country’s share of water and killings at the border, he said: “No, no I gave examples. I gave two examples to explain to you what our stand will be. We want our share of the water. In other words, I want my country’s share, my people’s share."
“I want what is rightfully ours. By citing the killing of Felani, I meant to show that if harm comes to my people, I will certainly not accept that harm.”
'IS DISAGREEMENT NOT A PART OF DEMOCRACY?'
Since taking office on Aug 7, 2024, state reforms have been at the top of the agenda for the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration, inviting political parties and stakeholders to dialogue on key issues, including the electoral process, constitutional changes and governance.
Although the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami had been longtime allies, having formed a coalition government in 2001, the two parties have not always seen eye to eye on many of the proposed reforms.
In the interview, BBC Bangla asked Tarique about the differences between the BNP and several other parties, including Jamaat, over proposed political reforms.
One proposal suggested that a person should not be allowed to hold the positions of prime minister, leader of the house, and party chief at the same time -- a move the BNP opposed, submitting a note of dissent. The interviewer asked whether allowing one individual to hold all three roles could open the door to an authoritarian system.
“With all due respect to everyone, I am saying that reforms are needed in several areas in Bangladesh in order to repair the state.”
“A person cannot be the prime minister for more than two terms, and will not be. There are other issues like this. When there was a dictatorship in Bangladesh, we, the BNP, said these things to their faces, looking them in the eyes.”
He continued, “Now, many people may be talking about reform. But they did not even say the ‘R’ of reform back then. Even after that, with full respect to everyone it seems like if the BNP agrees with everyone, then it is okay. But if BNP does not agree with any of them, then it is wrong -- this is not democracy.”
“I mean, if I agree with others, then it is democracy. If I disagree with others, then it is not democracy. What kind of democracy is this?” Tarique asked.
Stressing that accommodating differing opinions is a hallmark of democracy, he said: "We may agree on many issues. We may not agree on all issues, we may disagree on some issues -- this is democracy, this is the essence of democracy. We are not playing hide and seek. If I feel something is wrong, I say it is wrong.”
BBC Bangla then asked why there were objections to the BNP’s 31-point reform plan, which calls for a balance of power between the president and the prime minister.
“We are still where we said we were. We have not changed our position.”
Pressed on whether the BNP would prioritise its 31-point reform plan or the more recent July Charter if it came to power, Tarique said the focus would first be on areas of agreement among the opposition.
“We will first emphasise those that we have agreed on. No matter what you call it, naturally, we will first emphasise those that we have agreed on in the Consensus Commission, if we get the opportunity to form a government.”
“And, then what you said about the 31 points -- of course the 31 points are our political commitment to the people. We will implement those of our 31 points that are consistent with it. Because that is our political commitment. Just like this, that is also our political commitment. We, the political parties, have said this together. The same way, many political parties have also spoken of the 31 points together.”
