London (20 August): BNP's Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, emphasized the necessity of ensuring the political and economic empowerment of the people to solidify the spirit and objectives of the popular uprising. He stressed that it is crucial to bring the ousted anti-people forces to justice while empowering the citizens politically and economically. He pointed out that the most significant tool for the political empowerment of the people is securing every citizen’s right to vote. Tarique Rahman made these remarks in a video message from London on Tuesday (20 August).

Tarique Rahman stated that the escape of the genocidal Hasina has paved the way for the end of 15 years of fascist rule. He declared that the time has come to establish accountable democracy in the country. People who have been humiliated, deprived, and stripped of their rights are now eagerly awaiting the opportunity to lead a free, secure, and dignified life. He urged that now is the time to build a safe and humane Bangladesh to fulfill popular expectations. For the last 15 years, the democracy-loving people have continued their struggle to establish democracy, human rights, and voting rights in the country by ending the fascist regime. During this time, many people have been forcibly disappeared, killed, or kidnapped, and many have been permanently disabled while participating in the movement. In the end, the historic popular uprising led by students forced the genocidal Hasina to flee the country.

The BNP Acting Chairman warned that a well-orchestrated conspiracy is underway to thwart the success and objectives of this historic uprising. As part of this conspiracy, a planned attack on a religious community was orchestrated to create instability in the country. However, due to the timely intervention of the forces supporting the movement to oust Hasina and the interim government’s measures, the ousted evil forces failed to deteriorate the situation. But the defeated forces have not given up their conspiracies. In this scenario, Tarique Rahman emphasized that consolidating the spirit and objectives of the historic popular uprising led by students and the masses should be the top priority.

Tarique Rahman remarked that a power shift is not merely a change in state authority. It signifies a qualitative transformation of the state and politics. Without ensuring the political and economic empowerment of the people, the desired qualitative transformation of the state and politics is not possible. To ensure people's participation in the desired state reform, and to make the democratic system sustainable, a government accountable to the people through elections must be established.

Tarique Rahman earnestly appealed to the forces aligned with Bangladesh and democratic values: "Do not fall into the trap set by the defeated evil forces. To bring the student-led uprising to ultimate success, no one should engage in or support any form of occupation. Do not attack the weak. Do not take the law into your own hands. Instead of revenge, let us all take responsibility from our respective positions to ensure effective state reform and build a desired democratic state without discrimination."

The BNP Acting Chairman expressed his deep condolences to the thousands of people from various walks of life who were martyred in the student-led popular uprising, including university student Shahid Abu Sayeed, Mahfuzur Rahman Mughdho, college student Wasim Akram, madrasa student Abdullah Al Mamun, school student Rifat Hossain, a 60-year-old mother Maya Islam, 6-year-old child Ria Ghosh, teenage student Naima Sultana, lawyer Abul Kalam from Cumilla, mason Ujjal Hossain from Chuadanga, shop worker Asif from Noakhali, and pharmaceutical sales representative Al Amin from Barguna. Countless others are still undergoing treatment in various hospitals across the country, with many, like Pabna’s driver Arafat Hossain, gunshot victim Mustakim (22) from Mirpur, shop worker Atikul, and eighth-grader Tamim, having lost limbs. Hundreds have lost their sight or have been permanently disabled. Though democracy-loving people may enjoy the taste of freedom won through the sacrifice of countless lives on 5 August, those families who lost their loved ones or have suffered unimaginable hardship in treating the injured have yet to feel the touch of that freedom.

Tarique Rahman highlighted that the interim government has already initiated several measures to provide necessary assistance to those who were injured or affected by the popular uprising. He regarded these as positive steps. However, he suggested that honoring those injured or affected in the uprising and their families through state recognition would offer some solace, even if only temporarily. He also believed that such an initiative would further strengthen the spirit of the uprising. He proposed that 5 August should be celebrated annually as a significant day in national life under state initiative.

Tarique Rahman further noted that in 2018, a movement to reform the quota system swept the country. At that time, the protestors were deceived by the state, and the genocidal Hasina brutally suppressed the movement. She did not even allow the injured to receive medical treatment. Therefore, he urged that consideration be given to how the state can now assist those who were injured or affected during the 2018 quota reform movement. He expressed his belief that the power and aspirations of youth can never be ignored by a state or government that aims to achieve its goals.

Addressing the media, the BNP Acting Chairman stated that the genocidal Hasina had stripped away the freedom of the press. Now that she has fled, the people expect the media to write boldly, "Hasina has fled." If any media outlet employs any euphemism instead of using the phrase "Hasina has fled," it will call into question their journalistic integrity in the eyes of the public. He urged the media to broadcast special programs focusing on the suffering and distress of the families who lost loved ones or were injured during the student-led revolution. He also urged them to question why the investigation into the murder of Sagar-Runi has not been completed even after a decade. He added that the people want to see investigative reports on the looting under Hasina's rule. The media should showcase the acts of vote robbery and genocide committed by Hasina, urging the media to produce special programs highlighting these events. He believed that if Hasina’s atrocities are framed and documented, it would deter future leaders from engaging in similar acts, thereby strengthening democracy and forcing those in power to refrain from tyrannical behavior.

Tarique Rahman also addressed all BNP leaders, workers, and supporters across the country, urging them to gain the trust and love of the people to secure their vote in the national election, the date for which the interim government will announce in due course. He emphasized the importance of staying connected with the people, ensuring that no one feels insecure due to their religion, ethnicity, or identity, and acting as responsible and popular members of the BNP.

Regarding the role of expatriates in the movement against Hasina's regime, Tarique Rahman acknowledged the significant contributions of Bangladeshi expatriates alongside students and the general public in the movement. He noted that when freedom of expression was suppressed in the country, a courageous group of expatriates highlighted the misrule of Hasina from abroad and joined the people's movement. Some expatriates even faced imprisonment and harassment for expressing solidarity with the movement. He encouraged expatriates to continue playing their roles within the confines of the law of the countries they reside in to build a desired democratic Bangladesh free of discrimination.