BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday said that the nation could face dire consequences if the party failed to remain united ahead of the next general election.

“The battle ahead will be very difficult. Dire consequences wait for us if we fail to remain united,” he said.

He urged his party activists to set aside nomination-related grievances while virtually addressing the second day of the BNP’s seven-day programme, “Plan to Build the Nation”, at the KIB Convention Hall in the capital.

His comments come as dissident BNP aspirants continue protests across the country, blocking roads and demanding withdrawal of certain party-nominated candidates, claiming they lack popularity in their constituencies.

‘Sheaf of Paddy’ must come before candidates

The BNP stalwart said, “It is not a matter of personal liking or disliking. ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ is the key issue and then the development of the country and the party. We will have to face a challenging situation if we fail to remain united.”

He further said that BNP had largely made the right choices in finalising candidates and urged all nationalist forces to work for the symbol and the party’s development agenda.

Public engagement, particularly after the July 2024 uprising, must increase to counter propaganda, he said, adding that the next two months would be critical for BNP to mobilise public support.

Propaganda branding one person good, others bad ‘dangerous’

Tarique criticised what he described as a long-running narrative portraying one political figure as good and the rest as bad, calling it “dangerous for democracy”.

He said a party has promoted this message for 16 years and it has continued even after the 5 August political changeover.

He blamed the previous “fascist government” for the country’s economic crisis and urged BNP activists, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal members, to work at the grassroots to build support for the party’s pledges.

He highlighted BNP’s 31-point programme, including resuming the canal-digging project, tackling pollution, introducing farmer, family and health cards, improving sports and education, creating jobs and expanding civic amenities.

No alternative to election

Tarique said only elections can ensure accountability and that an elected government, not a fascist one, must govern the country.

He said the people, particularly the youth, were the driving force behind the 5 August changeover, during which 63 children lost their lives in the anti-fascist movement to oust the undemocratic fascist Awami League from power.

Calling the youth the country’s immediate future, Tarique said the country’s peace, progress and development depended on them and if they remained united, the country must march forward.

Religious politics misleading the nation: Salahuddin

Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed criticised an unnamed political party for “misleading people in the name of religion”.

He said that the public would reject those who obstruct democratic progress.

He said BNP has spent 16 years fighting to restore people’s voting rights and strengthen democratic governance.

“A certain political party, void of principles and future plans, is deceiving people by selling the pills of religion. Their faces have been exposed,” he said.

Salahuddin said BNP did not believe in religion-based politics and instead sought to ensure empowerment and security through knowledge and technology.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi presided over the event, which continues until 13 December, except Fridays.

Front and associate bodies, including  JCD, Swechchhasebak Dal and Ulama Dal, are taking part.