Tarique: Accountability must for everyone from UP members to prime minister

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday pledged to establish accountability at every level of society.

He said: “We aim to create an environment of accountability in the country. As a political party, our primary goal and purpose revolve around accountability. Should only the prime minister, ministers, and MPs be accountable? No, accountability must extend to every level. Just as a union council member must be accountable, so must a prime minister. Both public and private sectors must ensure accountability across all levels”

He made these remarks as the chief guest at a day-long workshop for the Faridpur division, held as part of BNP’s program to implement and engage the public with its 31-Point Plan.

Addressing party members, he said: “During the rule of the fleeing authoritarian government, there was no accountability in any sphere. Had there been accountability, Tk2,000 crore would not have been laundered from Faridpur.”

He said: “We aim to create a healthcare system where people can receive treatment within the country. Students should have access to quality education, and we must establish the rule of law. Accountability is the cornerstone for achieving all of this.”

He added: “To establish accountability, we need to reflect on the past. Just as people from various walks of life united to force the authoritarian government into fleeing, we must unite to secure the rights of our people. Through this unity, we can gradually start building the Bangladesh we aspire to achieve.”

Instructing BNP activists to maintain public trust, he said: “If we rely solely on public trust in the BNP without proactive engagement, that trust will gradually erode. Therefore, the first requirement is to retain public confidence. To do this, we must align ourselves with their expectations. Some among us have made mistakes, and they must correct those mistakes.”

Tarique Rahman added: “We must also warn them when necessary and, in some cases, take strict measures. Remember, the capital of a political party is public trust. If that is lost, everything is lost.”

Referring to reform, he said: “Over the past two to three months, various individuals have been speaking about reforms. What they are proposing is already included in our 31-point plan. We presented these points at a time when we knew the fall of authoritarianism was inevitable, though we did not know the exact timeline. Our commitment to working for the people of this country is the strongest proof of our intent.”