Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said with the support of the people, BNP wants to see that the country will be run through "national government" system while bicameral parliament system will be incorporated in the constitution in future, reports BSS.

“An opportunity had been lost without using the strength of national unity just after independence. We don’t want to lose that opportunity again in future,” he said.

It was the last meeting as part of the consecutive view-exchange meetings with grassroots leaders and workers.

BNP Standing Committee Members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy were also joined, BNP's media cell told the media.

Tarique Rahman said: “Our predecessors had brought an independent country for us by fighting in the battlefield. Unquestioned national unity was the main strength to win this war. It is sad but true that we could not utilize the strength of that unity after independence.”

The country got divided since the first day as the partisan government of Awami League came to power instead of an essential national government, he said, adding that as a result, a large section of population could not contribute to the nation building despite their willingness.

“We have seen how one party men dominated everywhere and all others’ position became insignificant and trivial in partisan government. As a result, the country was deprived of services from a large population,” said BNP Acting Chairman.

Tarique Rahman said all of those who participated in the struggle to restore democracy and people’s voting rights will participate in running the country in the future so that the country is not deprived of the benefits of their contribution.

Presenting another important reform plan of the party, BNP Acting Chairman said there are numerous knowledgeable and talented teachers, artists-literature, journalists, researchers, physicians, technical experts, and humanitarian workers, who are not engaged with traditional politics in the country, but want to participate in building, developing and running the country.

But in the current constitutional framework, there is no opportunity for them to contribute to the nation as members of parliament, he added.

To utilize their services and contributions to the cause of the country, BNP wants to see that a bicameral parliament system with an upper house will be incorporated in the constitution like many other countries in the world, he said.

"I can only humbly share our plans and intentions for the future, because we know that the support of the people of the country can only help us implement our plans," Tarique Rahman said.

He hoped the people will not want to see those parties or individuals in the national government who turned the whole country into the private property of a party and family.

They put the burden of Taka 1.5 lakh loan on the shoulder of each citizen in the name of so-called development and laundered billions of money and amassed a mountain of wealth in the country.

They made people's lives intolerable with enforced disappearances, carrying out attacks and registering indiscriminate cases, he said.

The prices of essentials, including rice, pulse, salt, oil, and medicines went beyond the purchasing capacity of the people and ruined all the pillars of the state including executive, legislative and judiciary, he said.

Even before fleeing the country, they made the capital city as well as every district and upazila bloodstained with the blood of hundreds of innocent people, he said.

"The people must not want to incorporate these tyrants into the national government," he said.

He extended congratulations to all the party leaders and activists for participating in the nonstop movement in the last 17 years and keeping absolute trust in the party.

"Why will you allow a few wayward individuals to destroy your sacrifice and contributions? Stay alert, be aware and resist them," he urged the party men.

He suggested the party's leaders and activists become befit to attain the people's confidence and trust with the changed aspirations and language of the people in the present contest.

He asked the party men to apply their own political wisdom and strategy to tackle the invisible opponents that appeared in the recent times.

Expressing deep trust and gratefulness to grassroots leaders and activists, Tarique Rahman said they protected the party again and again in all crisis periods.

He said the devoted activists of the BNP, who don't expect to be MPs and ministers or get positions in the party, always kept absolute trust in martyred President Ziaur Rahman and Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia and the ideology of BNP. If they continue it, success and progress of the BNP as a party can never get halted, he said.

Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan