Under the capable leadership of Tarique Rahman, the leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) continue to move forward with unstoppable momentum. The party and its members have faced extremely difficult circumstances and moments.
Over 17 long years of struggle, they have endured countless adversities—yet they have never surrendered. Disappearances, murders, fabricated cases, brutal attacks, and certain death in Aynaghar’s torture chambers have all been endured. Millions have served prison terms.
Some activists have been burdened with as many as 450 cases each, filed by the Awami League. Yet, no true devotee of the party has deviated even slightly from its nationalist ideals.
It is not unreasonable to expect obstacles and hidden dangers on the path towards truth, beauty, and a defined national destination. Tarique Rahman, BNP’s acting chairman, has for years energised the party with a powerful unification of youth. Like many, he understands that youth represent the future.
Today, Tarique Rahman himself remains youthful in spirit while leading the party. Through mature reflection, he has grown wise, seasoned at every turn of history, and currently stands as one of the most experienced figures capable of statecraft.
While for some, becoming prime minister or president is a personal ambition, to Tarique Rahman, such a position would be an overwhelming responsibility. When work is seen as a duty rather than a pursuit of power, it becomes honest, transparent, and meaningful.
Moreover, Tarique Rahman’s political mission is for the people. Whenever and wherever there is crisis, he sends trusted leaders to seek solutions with tireless resolve. Not only that, he has expelled more than 4,500 party workers for breaching internal discipline.
It is an undeniable truth that governing Bangladesh in the days ahead will not be easy for any prime minister. Following the July people's uprising, fear over freedom of speech and life itself has waned among the people.
A nation that knows how to embrace death cannot be extinguished. Today, everyone is connected through information technology, and artificial intelligence is emerging as a human substitute. The incoming government’s foremost responsibility will be to safeguard democracy and lead the nation in the right direction, alongside securing trust in Bangladeshi nationalism, uniting with both socialist and Islamic ideals to solidify democratic foundations.
Enforcing law and order, controlling mob justice, ensuring equality and justice, establishing a legal framework, building mutual understanding, forming a humane society, and defending democracy and national power from internal and external threats—these are all challenges requiring firm action.
Alongside building stronger global ties, precise diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries will also be essential. A state on the verge of collapse demands comprehensive policy planning to steer it towards prosperity.
Following the fall of the government on 5 August 2024, Tarique Rahman urged citizens to reject extremism of all forms and instructed BNP activists: “Taking revenge is not the job of politicians.”
This, from a man who has suffered constant repression from the 1/11 regime to the recent uprising—he was exiled from the country, named in countless fabricated cases, tried and sentenced in his absence, repeatedly denied a passport. His wife, Zubaida Rahman—a non-political figure—has been relentlessly targeted with false charges. Even his deceased younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko has been subjected to slander and lies.
Yet, following 5 August, Tarique Rahman did not deliver any vengeful speech to please his party workers or strike back at opponents. Not a word of bitterness passed his lips.
After the uprising, one might have expected Tarique Rahman to repeatedly highlight the oppression he faced in an effort to win public sympathy. But he has remained silent. He has not uttered a word about the torture inflicted on him or his family. Instead, he has appeared before the nation as a complete and mature politician—redefining himself with a new image.
In this critical time, for the greater good of the nation, Tarique Rahman has restructured himself—rebuilding, refining, and sharpening his leadership as an unrivalled figure.
During national crises, all citizens must unite under a shared umbrella. Key among these shared responsibilities are respect for the Constitution and rule of law, establishment of justice, equal opportunity for all, and unity in preserving the spirit of the Language Movement of 1952, the Liberation War, and the nation's independence and sovereignty. Any future elected leader must play a pivotal role in upholding these principles.
Recently, the Interim Consensus Commission introduced various observations on state reform. Yet, in practice, reform remains elusive. According to Tarique Rahman, 99% of these proposed reforms were already outlined by the BNP over two and a half years ago. This means that even while out of power, statecraft has continued to drive Tarique Rahman’s vision.
Therefore, if Tarique Rahman publicly commits to implementing BNP’s reform proposals—rooted in the urgent and logical demands of the people—it is only a matter of time before BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s vision becomes reality. In other words, Tarique Rahman is destined to be the future Prime Minister.
The author is a poet and a fiction writer.
