BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said that until the direct representatives of the people are given the responsibility of running the country, it is not possible to fully implement these reforms.

He said this at a view-exchange meeting with photojournalists working in various media outlets injured in the 24th mass uprising organized by the BNP family at the Krishibid Institute in Khamarbari in the capital on Monday (February 17) evening.

Explaining why the implementation of reforms is not possible without direct representatives of the people, he said that only those with whom the people have direct involvement can present the people's views. Only they will be able to lead the country forward as a whole according to their aspirations.

He said that to build a Bangladesh without discrimination, political rights must be established first. Economic freedom must be ensured. Economic freedom cannot be ensured without political freedom. To ensure political rights, the right to vote must be ensured.

Mentioning that those who were affected while making the movement successful are deprived of proper medical treatment, the second top leader of BNP said, "A few days ago we saw that several members of the student community have blocked the road, why? They are not getting proper medical treatment. Those who were affected while making the movement successful in July-August are deprived of proper medical treatment. This incident has happened once or more than once."

The acting chairman of BNP said, "My question is, if we try to do some day-to-day affairs, is it possible to reach out to most of the people properly and at the right time? Of course not. Therefore, to make the reforms successful, people are needed who are directly involved with the people. Otherwise, no reform will be possible."

Mentioning that the reform proposal was presented to the people by the politicians of this country two years ago, he said, "The reform proposal was presented to the people of this country two years ago by the politicians of this country, the political workers presented the reform to the people of this country. Therefore, if real reform is to be done in this country, it has to be done through politicians." Of course, there are many people in the country outside of politicians, there are people from many professions, there are intellectuals, there are lawyers, there are people from civil society, we will definitely take their advice, on the basis of that we will gradually move the country forward.

Tarique Rahman said, it is not enough to just ensure the right to vote, we have to ensure the right to exercise our vote. That is, I am a voter, just as I have the right to vote, we have to ensure that we are able to bring our preferred representative through voting freely and fearlessly.

Stating that BNP has spoken about a society without discrimination for a long time, he added, "Now those who are talking about inequality, we had said that long ago, about discrimination. We are trying to go to people's homes with our 31 points, we are trying to tell people what our 31 points are. The main point of the 31 points is a democratic Bangladesh, a Bangladesh that every person expects. That Bangladesh will have political rights where people will have economic freedom. Because as a political activist, I firmly believe that if people's political rights and economic freedom cannot be ensured, then everything will be ruined.

The arrest warrant issued against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in the August 21 grenade attack case has been withdrawn on the orders of the High Court.

Judge Rafiqul Islam of Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 issued the order on Monday (February 17) following the state's application.

Earlier, Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain acquitted all the accused in the August 21 grenade attack case on December 1.

Regarding the withdrawal of the arrest warrant, Special Public Prosecutor of Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 Abdur Rashid Molla said that several accused who were acquitted in the August 21 grenade attack case, including Tarique Rahman, were absconding. The court ordered the withdrawal of the previous arrest warrant against them in the verdict.

He said that when the High Court order reached the trial court, the state party filed an application to withdraw the arrest warrants against Tarique Rahman and others. In view of that application, the court ordered the withdrawal of the warrants.

The National Identity Card Registration Division (NID) Director General (DG) ASM Humayun Kabir has said that various information verification organizations will not be allowed to verify the complete information of citizens from the Election Commission’s server.

He told this to media personnel at the NID head office at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon in the capital on Monday (February 17).

It is known that 182 organizations contracted with the Election Commission verify information on national identity cards. Recently, allegations of information leakage were made against some of these organizations. An investigation is also underway against 5 organizations in this regard. Last week, the Election Commission exchanged views with representatives of these organizations to determine what to do to prevent information leakage.

The NID DG said that the information that the information verification organizations want to verify will be informed by the Election Commission whether it is correct or incorrect. That is, from now on, others will not be able to completely verify the important information of citizens. He said this decision has been taken to prevent information leakage.

Stating that there have been previous incidents of information leakage from various institutions, he further said that a committee will be formed from the Election Commission, which will be able to inspect and investigate various institutions without permission. The information verification institutions and those working in the institutions will need security clearance.

At the same time, he also said that the work of fixing various errors in the NID is going on rapidly. He said that since the crash program was taken to resolve pending applications for correction of national identity cards, 50 percent of the applications have been settled so far. All applications will be settled quickly.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, we want to see India as a friend, but we have to explain our fair share of water. If you want friendship with Bangladesh, give Teesta water first. We have to stop shooting and killing our citizens on the border.

He said, Awami League has ruled Bangladesh for 15 years but has not been able to bring a single drop of Teesta water. Bangladesh has 54 common rivers with India, they have built dams on each river. On one hand, India does not give us water, on the other hand, they have installed Bangladesh's enemy Hasina.

He said these things at a rally demanding the protection of Teesta and implementation of the master plan at Char Point adjacent to Teesta Railway Bridge in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts on Monday (February 17).

Under the slogan 'Jago Bahe, Teesta Bachai', the 'Tista River Protection Movement Committee' is holding rallies, marches and cultural performances at 11 points in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts. The 48-hour program was inaugurated by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

To implement the program, a stage has been set up on the banks of Teesta, food arrangements have been made, and tents have been pitched for overnight stays. Students, farmers, fishermen, environmental activists, teachers, doctors and members of various professional organizations have joined the rally in a row demanding the protection of the dried-up Teesta.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, will we take the movement that is starting today to the end. Just as Maulana Bhashani started the movement to protect Ganges, today, after many days, Asadul Habib Dulubhai has started that movement again.

He said, the interim government calls itself a neutral government, so we should ask India for the fair water of Teesta. Reform quickly and hold elections. The people could not vote for many years. Therefore, the people want to send their representatives to the parliament and have their demands implemented through them. Many are told, "We vote, if we vote, the instability going on in the country will stop. The people will get representatives to speak their minds." Addressing the people present, Mirza Fakhrul said, "Nothing can be achieved without fighting. We will fight to achieve our rights and get our fair share." He said, "Now a new fight has begun, that is, the fight of life and death, the fight for freedom. Wake up, let's save Teesta."