Tarique Rahman Questions Whether Demanding Elections is a ‘Crime’

Staff Correspondent

BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman has commented that demanding elections has now become a “crime” in the country.

Speaking via video conference from the UK at the fifth founding anniversary event of the AB Party at the National Press Club on Friday, he said, “It is natural and democratic for a political party to demand elections. Yet, in recent times, an atmosphere has been created in the country where even demanding elections seems like a crime.”

Reiterating the call for a specific roadmap for national elections, Tarique Rahman said, “I want to reiterate, announce a clear roadmap for the national elections.”

The country is currently facing political instability over the timing of elections under the interim government. The government has stated that elections may be held in December this year after reforms, or by June 2026 if major reforms are undertaken. However, the BNP claims that this process is being prolonged to ultimately prevent elections.

Tarique Rahman remarked, “Derogatory statements about national elections bring joy to Awami League supporters, but they are an insult to democracy-loving people. If ongoing reforms disregard the demand for elections by political parties, then what is the significance of these reforms?”

Raising questions about delays in interim government reforms, the BNP leader said, “Every political party supports reforms. Yet, why is the interim government taking so much time on these reforms? This is raising growing concerns among the public.”

Calling on the interim government to create an opportunity for political parties to face the “people’s court,” he said, “If a government and parliament accountable to the people are formed through elections, the independence and sovereignty of the country will be strengthened. When political practices normalize government formation and change through elections, no one will be able to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state.”

Welcoming the emergence of new political parties after the fall of “fascist rule,” Tarique Rahman said, “Twenty-five new parties have emerged. While pro-democracy political parties may differ in ideology, their positions on national interests must be unified.”

Addressing the Awami League, Tarique Rahman said, “The party that destroyed democracy and created ‘fascist rule’ involving enforced disappearances and killings fled the country after a mass uprising. Democracy-loving people will never accept such anti-national forces.”

Questioning how those accused of violating the constitution will be kept away from politics, he said, “The democracy-loving people of Bangladesh want to know what steps the interim government has taken to render those accused of constitutional violations irrelevant in future politics.”

Describing the proposal to hold local government elections before the national election as a “path to rehabilitate autocracy,” he said, “Armed with hundreds of crores of looted money, accomplices of autocracy across the country are waiting to be rehabilitated. Local elections would be a golden opportunity for runaway autocrats.”

Tarique Rahman’s remarks come at a time when pressure is mounting in opposition politics over the lack of an election roadmap. The BNP and several other parties have expressed concerns on this issue in meetings with the United Nations, the European Union, and other international observers.