Dear leaders and activists of all pro-democracy political parties of Bangladesh, the distinguished members of the National Standing Committee and party officials of various levels of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, honourable diplomats, civil society members, and media representatives – thank you for being here today. 

Today, we are gathered here with our diverse political backgrounds, perspectives, views, beliefs, ideological differences. Yet, I believe, we all share a common commitment, which is our shared goal of a democratic Bangladesh.

Our common goal is to re-build Bangladesh, a Bangladesh where fascist ideologies can never flourish, and a fascist dictatorship can never rise again. 

We want an independent and sovereign Bangladesh where people’s rights and freedoms are protected. We strive for a secure Bangladesh that reflects the aspirations of our people, governed by an elected and accountable government that ensures public ownership and participation in every layer of the nation-building process.

Under Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule, we witnessed the so-called politics of “development”, which in essence turned out to be a system grounded in corruption, nepotism, and anarchy. In contrast, if the BNP forms Bangladesh’s future government through a public mandate, you will see BNP’s politics will align with our 31-point outline for structural reforms, rooted in public empowerment, engagement, and accountability. The foundation of our governance will be the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of expression.

We believe that a government’s foremost duty is to govern within the guard-rails of a rules-based order. We believe, whenever there is rule of law, accountability, and good governance, sustainable and inclusive development will naturally follow. Unlike the crony-capitalism of the Awami League which resulted in a family-run kleptocracy, converted Bangladeshi businesses into oligarchy and syndicates creating division and discrimination, we will establish a fair business climate, prevent institutional decay and politicization across all levels of the Bangladeshi society.

By establishing a rules-based structure, Bangladesh will systematically attract private investment and capital from around the world. We will create the right business atmosphere, where local and international private capital will flow in to work hand-in-hand with our public sector to drive national growth and productivity. 

We aim to build a Bangladesh where no individual – not even the Prime Minister – can abuse power with impunity. Accountability and transparency will be ensured at every level of the government, from the highest offices to the grassroots, so that we can reaffirm that no one is above the law.

If entrusted with the people’s mandate to govern, the BNP will restore freedom of expression for all citizens, regardless of political or organizational affiliation. As it was the case two decades ago, during the last BNP government, Bangladesh’s media will again have the freedom to “speak truth to power,” to critique the government openly, through investigative reports, political talk shows, comedy and satires. You may recall how a section of the media once published unfounded stories against me and then-Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, engaging in media trials and propaganda. Yet, as it is now well documented, the former BNP government did not suppress media freedom, harass journalists, or imprison any editor in retaliation back then.

Over the past 16 years, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of association have been systematically stripped off from myself, my party, countless pro-democracy activists, and from many of you present here today. Recognizing this, we pledge to ensure freedom of opinion and expression for all citizens, including human rights activists, social influencers, and journalists, InshaAllah.

Our goal is to create a state structure where no one will be harassed for expressing views on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, or other online spaces, or for merely commenting publicly on high-ranking officials, which will also include the Prime Minister. Neither mainstream nor social media will be coerced into concealing the truth or pressured to spread misinformation. We also expect the media to maintain neutrality and objectivity in their roles toward national development.

The fallen dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina established a reign of fear in Bangladesh. If elected by the people, the BNP government will make every effort to eliminate that climate of fear. We will eliminate all the tools of suppression used by that regime, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, excessive force, politically motivated trials, warrantless mass arrests, and various other forms of gross human rights violations. Following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we will work to protect the rights and basic freedoms of every citizen.

A transfer of power should not simply mean passing the state’s governing authority from one party to another. Rather, it should usher in a new political culture that reflects the evolving landscape of society and the true aspirations of the people, particularly the younger generation.

In the three months following the fall of the Awami League, BNP leaders nationwide have undertaken initiatives to modernize politics, which our grassroots have enthusiastically embraced across the country. As we have seen, BNP leaders and activists have once again stood by the victims of recent floods with maximum organizational strength, provided heartfelt assistance to the families of martyrs and the injured during the recent mass uprising. The BNP refrained from celebratory motorbike processions or vehicle rallies to avoid public inconvenience; cleaned and tidied venues after political programs; removed banners and posters from city walls; and promoted an overall citizen-friendly, people-centric political approach.

One should remember that during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, the Awami League leaders and activists committed countless acts of murders, assaults, rapes, and extortions over the last 16 years, yet there were little known records of organizational accountability or punishment. Even after the recent killings of over 1,500 pro-democracy activists in the July-August uprising, no Awami League leader has yet shown any remorse, expressed any apology. They are still far from expressing mere acknowledgement that they committed crimes against the nation.

On the other hand, we all know that over 6 million BNP leaders and activists were charged with false, politically motivated criminal cases. Despite the burden of those false cases, if any individual within our vast organization is found involved in any isolated wrongdoing today, we are swiftly taking stern organizational action. After 5th August, when the law-and-order situation broke down and police presence waned, the BNP stood by the people, safeguarded the nation, ensured public security, and upheld social stability without resorting to retaliatory violence. To thwart conspiracies by fascist collaborators during the Puja season, BNP leaders and activists throughout Bangladesh guarded temples and places of worship, standing by people of all faiths, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, to ensure their safety. 

Bangladesh was liberated by our freedom fighters through immense sacrifices so that every citizen, regardless of religion, political affiliation, or social identity could enjoy their religious, political, cultural, and social rights without any hindrance. Thus, in an independent Bangladesh, we do not view anyone as a so-called ‘minority.’ BNP’s policy is to ensure equal rights and security for all citizens. 

This ideal of ‘Bangladeshi nationalism’ underpins all our politics – where we believe that our religion, political affiliations, and ideologies are personal; but the state belongs to everyone.

I hope today’s discussion on our 31-point outline will redefine Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress, shining a ray of hope for those citizens who are hungry for meaningful change. This framework for structural reform draws from Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s 19 points, the Vision 2030 of our leader Begum Khaleda Zia, and the BNP’s extensive public engagement and political experience, initially culminating in 27 points, and later expanded to 31 points, through consensus built with our allied political parties over simultaneous democratic movements.

These days our hopeful citizens are coming up with numerous prescriptions for reforms. We take inspiration from the fact that, our 31-point proposal encapsulates all those popular ideas for reform, currently being discussed nationwide in various forums. 

When I personally speak of reform, I envision transformative change that enhances people’s lives – not mere revision to a few constitutional paragraphs. Reform for me means ensuring livelihood, socio-economic security, and savings for every family. Reform must address unemployment by creating jobs for men and women and reform must ensure the dignity, freedom, and empowerment of women.

Reform should guarantee the safety and welfare of all citizens. It must provide our youth with modern education and moral values. It has to deliver the healthcare system that people deserve. It must stabilize the market and control prices of essential goods and services. Reform needs to ensure fair wages for farmers, labourers, and people from every working segment of Bangladesh.

To achieve all of the above, and also to prevent the recurrence of authoritarian rule in Bangladesh, BNP proposes amending the constitution to limit the tenure of any individual as Prime Minister to two consecutive terms. We want to balance power among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. To ensure representation and participation of the learned and accomplished professionals in governance, we propose introducing a bicameral parliamentary system.

Our goals include employment for the youth, while providing the unemployed with eligibility-based unemployment benefits until employment is secured, up to one year. We seek to promote female participation at every level, empower grassroots communities, and revive the historic canal excavation projects to manage flooding and modernize irrigation. We aim to bring forward-looking reforms across healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, climate, and the economy, developing a skilled workforce, expanding export-oriented industries, and boosting national remittances to establish a knowledge-based society. We want to ensure meritocracy at every layer of the nation-building process.

Today, as an activist of the BNP, I firmly believe that politics is not solely about going to power. Rather, politics is the tool for facilitating people’s true development and reflecting people’s inner aspirations. Those of us here, whether at home or abroad, those who are always thinking about Bangladesh’s progress, must work together to build an inclusive, liberal, and democratic Bangladesh. We must move forward together, fast yet steady, with clear and defined objectives.

Always being respectful to our national heritage and past achievements, our vision must be future-oriented, not buried in the past. We cannot afford to be bound by conventional governance; we must embrace modernization and innovation. Looking ahead, we must welcome the perspectives of all segments of society, ensuring an all-encompassing representation, and transforming our political culture along the way. 

I would like to emphasize that over the past 16 years, and especially through the uprising in July and August, everyone who has fought against fascism – every individual, political party, organization, and group championing democracy – has made sacrifices worthy of full recognition. By honouring the contributions of all citizens, restoring our deprived voting rights, and securing a public mandate, our shared priority is to establish a truly democratic Bangladesh.

I conclude with my sincere wishes for your continued good health.

Long live Bangladesh. Long live Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP.