“The main responsibility of this interim government is to build a democratic government one that is accountable to the people and free from fascism,” said Tarique Rahman. “This government’s duty is not to implement the agenda of any political group.”

He made the remarks while addressing the Hindu Representatives Conference 2025, organized by the Matua Bahujan Samaj Oikyajote, held at the Krishibid Institute auditorium in the capital’s Farmgate area on Saturday afternoon.

The BNP acting chairman alleged that during the “dictatorial regime” of the past years, BNP leaders and activists were subjected to widespread persecution. “At least 150,000 false cases were filed against BNP members across the country. Over 700 leaders and activists were abducted, disappeared, or murdered. Courts operated at night only to deliver verdicts against BNP leaders and activists. The root cause of all this was the absence of the rule of law,” he said.

Tarique Rahman added that during the “fugitive dictator’s rule,” no one in the country Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Christian; right-wing or left-wing felt safe. “There was no credible investigation or justice for incidents like the 2012 Ramu Buddhist temple attack or the 2016 Nasirnagar attack in Brahmanbaria,” he said.

He claimed that BNP had long demanded the formation of a citizen investigation commission comprising representatives from civil society, all political parties, and all faiths to investigate attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship. “Unfortunately, those demands were never met, and no credible investigation body was ever formed,” he lamented.

Tarique Rahman stressed that BNP believes justice and the rule of law are the only means to ensure the safety of every citizen, regardless of religion or background. “Without justice and the rule of law, neither minorities nor the majority can feel secure,” he said.

The BNP leader also urged all political actors to maintain stability in the post-fascist transition period. “In a dictatorship-free Bangladesh, we now have a great opportunity to establish democracy, justice, and rule of law for every person Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian alike. But the irresponsible behavior of some in the anti-fascist movement is jeopardizing the rights and opportunities of many. If the country becomes unstable, it could pave the way for the return of the fascist forces that were once defeated,” he warned.

He called on the interim government and democratic forces to remain alert to any “secret maneuvers” by defeated elements. “Just as the opposition had to use covert strategies to survive during the fascist regime, we must now ensure that those same defeated fascist forces do not use secret tactics to obstruct the path to democracy,” Tarique said.

He continued, “Everyone must stay vigilant so that the defeated evil forces of August 5 do not destabilize the nation through covert conspiracies. The best way to safeguard against such hidden threats is to preserve anti-fascist national unity. This is why BNP continues to support cooperation and understanding with the interim government and fellow pro-democracy allies.”

Reaffirming BNP’s political philosophy, Tarique Rahman said, “BNP has always been a peace-loving, tolerant, and people-oriented party. Respecting diverse opinions and maintaining harmony among differing political forces is part of BNP’s political culture.”

Outlining BNP’s future plans, he said, “If the people give BNP the mandate to govern, we will issue family cards to five million underprivileged families, with the cards registered under female heads of households. Similarly, we plan to distribute farmers’ cards to marginal and small-scale farmers to help them achieve financial independence through cooperative initiatives.”

Highlighting youth employment as a national priority, the BNP acting chairman said, “Youth unemployment is a major challenge in Bangladesh. To tackle this, BNP has planned to provide technical and practical training to young people so that they become skilled manpower, capable of securing jobs both at home and abroad.”