BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman has warned that “dark forces” are becoming increasingly active ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national election, threatening the prospects of a free and fair democratic process. Speaking virtually from London during BNP’s 47th founding anniversary event held at the Engineers Institution in Dhaka, Tarek emphasized that democracy remains at risk until a truly accountable government is elected through direct public vote.
“Unless a transparent, impartial election is held—one that leads to a government accountable to the people—democracy will remain vulnerable,” said Tarek Rahman.
He claimed that nearly a year ago, he had cautioned about invisible actors preparing to interfere in the electoral process. Now, he said, those forces are visibly working to undermine the people’s right to choose their leaders.
Allegations of Political Manipulation
Tarek criticized certain political parties for allegedly placing conditions on the interim government’s efforts to restore voting rights. He argued that these conditions are designed to obstruct the election process and divert it toward partisan interests.
“People are beginning to realize that these imposed conditions are not about protecting rights—they’re about protecting party agendas,” he added.
BNP, he reiterated, has consistently demanded swift elections, believing that restoring political power to the people is the first step toward national recovery. If an elected government fails to meet public expectations, voters should have the opportunity to replace it through the next election—an essential feature of any functioning democracy.
The event was chaired by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, with speeches from senior leaders including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Selima Rahman, and Major (Retd.) Hafizuddin. The session was moderated by BNP’s publicity secretary Sultan Salahuddin.
bdnewsnet.com will continue to monitor developments around the upcoming election and provide updates on political statements, alliances, and public sentiment.