‘This country belongs to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians’: Tarique Rehman’s big unity message on Bangladesh return

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who returned to the country after 17 years, on Thursday sought to send out a message of unity amid the ongoing violence against minority communities, particularly Hindus, saying the country belongs to the people of all regions and religions.

Addressing a huge gathering in Dhaka’s 300 Feet, Rahman said, “Today, the people of Bangladesh want to regain their right to speak. They want to get back their democratic rights.”

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He called upon the people of the country to come together to build a safe and prosperous Bangladesh. “This country belongs to people of the hills and the plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man, and child can leave home and return safely.”

Rahman, the son of ailing Khaleda Zia, is seen as a strong contender for the prime minister’s post ahead of the national elections in February next year.

His remarks hold significance as they come amid the ongoing violence against Hindus and other minority communities in the country. They also come just days after the brutal lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker in Mymensingh, which triggered massive outrage and protests in India.

In his speech, Rahman also referred to Martin Luther King Jr ‘s historic “I have a dream” speech and said: “I have a plan.”

His plan, he further elaborated, is to build the country, and he sought cooperation from every citizen to implement it. “Only then will it be possible to implement this plan.”

With ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League banned from contesting elections, Rahman’s BNP is seen as the frontrunner to form the next government.

Rahman, however, cautioned his supporters about the conspiracies, asking them not to respond to any form of provocation.

“Agents of various dominant powers are still engaged in conspiracies. We must remain patient. We have to exercise caution,” the BNP leader added.