Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has taken the initiative to renew its members in various countries. The party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the program on January 20. For this, the BNP's primary membership renewal program committee has been formed with the party's senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the convener and treasurer M Rashiduzzaman Millat as the member secretary. M Rashiduzzaman Millat spoke to Barta24.com about the party's primary membership renewal and various economic issues. The interview was conducted by staff reporter Md. Nazrul Islam.

Barta24.com: What is BNP's goal in renewing its members?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: Primary membership renewal and membership collection are ongoing processes for a party. We collected the last membership in 2017. As you know, the fallen government did not allow us to continue any of our activities. We have repeatedly faced obstacles in keeping our work going. We could not even hold any meetings and processions. In the past, especially since the 2018 elections, cases have been filed against our 6 million leaders and activists, and you know how many cases of disappearances and murders have occurred. In the meantime, we could not carry out our activities. We are now doing the membership renewal because we have excluded, expelled, and many of those who were considered our primary members in 2017. That is why the acting chairman, with the approval of our standing committee, has said that the membership renewal form is for member renewal. Basically, we will understand how many BNP members there are across Bangladesh through this renewal. In this renewal process, a subscription of Tk. 20 has been set for members. Part of the subscription will be spent on our party work.

Barta24.com: Why are you not accepting new members?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: We are doing the renewal only for those who were previously in the primary membership position. Only those who became members in 2017 will be able to renew. Now we will not take any new members. When it comes to recruiting new members, it will be seen that many of those who have fallen from fascism have also changed their appearance. Starting from the marginalized, everyone is now introducing themselves as BNP leaders, BNP supporters, and members. Some incidents, some extortion, some occupation are being done in the name of BNP. In many cases, we have seen that they are not BNP members at all. We have taken action against those who are BNP members. Our acting chairman has expelled, warned, and temporarily suspended membership of about 1,500 to 2,000 people from the party for various reasons. That is why we will renew members, not recruit them. So that no one can join the party.

Barta24.com: How will you distribute member renewal forms at the grassroots level?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: Member renewal forms have already started. A committee has been formed for this. The convener of this committee is our Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and I am the member secretary. The district BNP president and general secretary will collect the forms for the entire district from each district. There will be three parts to the renewal form, one copy of which will be with the member, another copy will be in the district, and another copy will be submitted to us.

Barta24.com: How are you getting a response from leaders and activists through the member renewal program?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: The first member to renew our membership was the outgoing chairman of the party, Tarique Rahman. Then the members of the standing committee. This has encouraged leaders and activists across the country. They are all looking forward to renewing. Through this, enthusiasm and enthusiasm among the people have increased. We think everyone will renew it voluntarily. Many will demand that we be made members. For example, there are 1.17 crore young voters. Many of them may not be our members. They will also be encouraged in this process and later they will also apply. We will present it to the standing committee along with our acting chairman, and if they approve, we will also go through that process.

Barta24.com: How many BNP members are there across the country?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: I hope that starting from the grassroots, they will renew 2.5 to 3 crore members including ward, union, upazila, district, metropolis, division and other affiliated organizations. This will deposit Tk. 50 crore in our party fund since this money will be used for party work in the upcoming elections, that is why we have taken this step.

Barta24.com: We have learned that Jamaat-e-Islami is run on the money collected from members. Is the BNP also walking the same path?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: We do not need to follow Jamaat-e-Islami. Rather, they can follow us. BNP is a large party. We are running with the same ideals as the martyred President started this party's activities. Jamaat-e-Islami has relied on different parties at different times. I think their process of recruiting members has been taken from us. In the past, Jamaat-e-Islami's vote was 3 percent, it may have increased to 4/5 percent.

Barta24.com: What is the source of BNP's money?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: BNP is a party of the people. This money that is being renewed for membership will go to the party fund. Besides, many people donate, which is all recorded. This money comes through specific banking channels. Deposits and withdrawals from the bank are made through checks. When various political programs are held, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and I, as the treasurer, sign and withdraw the money. We do the work through a clear calculation. For this, we have a CA firm. We audit our accounts through the CPA. We also have our own accounts department. Every year we have to submit our income and expenditure accounts to the Election Commission. We also provide that transparently.

As the days go by, political parties are becoming more vocal about the elections. There is talk of elections and the government’s state reforms in the political arena. BNP leaders are especially reacting strongly to the statements of various advisers to the interim government. In addition, they are roaming around their respective constituencies to show their strong position in the upcoming parliamentary elections, making various promises.

In such a situation, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince spoke privately with Barta24.com about the upcoming parliamentary elections, reforms, development and BNP’s political ideas. The interview was conducted by Staff Reporter Md. Nazrul Islam.

Barta24.com: What are your thoughts on the development of your constituency?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: My constituency consists of Haluaghat and Dhobaura upazilas. In the past, this bordering constituency has not seen any development. Therefore, we must first work on improving the communication system in this region. This will improve the lives of the common people, especially farmers, who will be able to easily transport their produce from their farms to the market. That is why we are listing various development works in the form of step one and step two, and we are working accordingly. A zero tolerance policy has been adopted to control drugs at the border.

In addition, the Gobarakura-Karaitali land port, which has been closed for the last three years, has been opened for the betterment of the people of this region. We have taken the initiative to ensure that not only imports but also exports can be done through this port. Our Mymensingh fish is exported to India via Akhaura. We will export these fish through our port.

Barta24.com: How do you evaluate the interim government?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: August 5 is a memorable day in the history of our nation. On this day, we achieved our second independence by overthrowing an authoritarian regime. The interim government was formed through a mass movement. Through this, a new journey on the path of democracy has begun. We have asked this government to give a reasonable time to reform the country. We have asked it to complete the necessary reforms within a reasonable time and hold elections as soon as possible. It may go beyond three months and even a year. However, the demands of the people must be met within this time. I think that in the current situation, the honeymoon period of this government is over. The people have accepted many things in the larger interest.

The great success of this government is that the people of the country are able to breathe free air today. The country is in a free democratic environment. It has started its journey on the path of reforms and elections. We hope that it will be more successful.

And if we talk about the failures, all the demands of the people such as the increase in the prices of daily necessities, during the Awami League period through syndicates, corruption, irregularities, the prices of daily necessities skyrocketed. The people had a natural expectation

Since the Awami League has ended, now it may be within the purchasing power of the people. But we did not get that expected desire.

Barta24.com: What is BNP's plan for parliamentary elections and state structure reforms?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: We want reforms. However, reforms are an ongoing process. We did not say that elections will be held within three months. Reforms will continue for ages. However, the government will have to complete them within a reasonable time and move towards elections. If we want to do all the reforms at once, it will take 5-10 years. All but two of the reforms that are being talked about now are included in our 31-point plan. If we are elected, we will definitely implement the proposals that the Reform Commission recommends. The change that took place on August 5 is not just a change of power; it will also lead to political change.

Barta24.com: What is the political future of Awami League? I want to know from you.

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: Awami League is a dangerous party. The people of this country have seen their dangerous form. No matter how they try to come back, the people of this country will not accept them anymore.

Barta24.com: Will the basis of politics be ‘71 or ‘24?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: My sprit of ‘71, nothing else can compare to that. But yes, added to this is the sprit of ‘75, the sprit of November 7, the sprit of the mass uprising of ‘90 and the sprit of this movement of the student masses of ‘24.

Barta24.com: How do you evaluate the political party of the students?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: BNP believes in multi-party democracy. We welcome anyone who forms a political party. However, if an attempt is made to form a political party using state power and various administrations, the people will never accept it. If someone from among the advisors forms a political party, then naturally this government will lose its neutrality. That is why our Secretary General has said that a non-partisan government will be needed for the elections.

Barta24.com: Is the distance between BNP and students increasing?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: I do not know about this. In fact, they are young and there is a little restlessness and tension at this age. I do not know whether it is because of that restlessness or tension. When our BNP Secretary General said something, they reacted the way they did, just like when Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the same thing, they did not react in the same way. Here we find one but.

Barta24.com: Has the relationship between BNP and Jamaat deteriorated in the current situation?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: BNP is a political party, Jamaat is a different political party. They have different policies and ideals. The unity that Jamaat had with us is issue-based. We have no unity here on political issues. However, the instability that we see in some parties, the various statements that are made to defeat BNP, I find similarities with the statements of Awami League in these statements. If such statements are made, the people will decide what to do.

Barta24.com: We do not want any exclusion of Ziabad-Mujibabad in Bangladesh; what do you say in this regard?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: It seems to me that this gentleman is trying to stay in the discussion by making various statements. We do not have any exclusion when it comes to Ziabad, since the establishment of BNP till now, no leader or worker of BNP has ever spoken about Ziabad. Where did they invent Ziabad? It is not known what the purpose of creating chaos and tension in the political arena is by inventing these new things. You cannot survive in the political arena by doing all this.

Barta24.com: How will India-Bangladesh relations be if BNP comes to power?

Syed Emran Saleh Prince: India is our neighboring country. We have many problems with India. BNP is not an anti-India political party. But if India takes a stand against Bangladesh, against the people, BNP will definitely take a stand for the people. We want good relations with India. They have to trust and believe in the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh.

Mahfuz Alam, adviser to the interim government, has commented that pro-Bangladesh people must be pro-liberation war.

He made this comment in a status posted on his verified Facebook ID at 5:56 pm on Tuesday (January 28).

Adviser Mahfuz Alam wrote, 'The liberation war means Bangladesh, the uprising of the students and the people means Bangladesh.

Criticize what happened after the liberation war. Review history. There is no problem. Even what happened during the liberation war can be argued. But all that will be done by accepting the liberation war.

We will talk about Sheikh Mujib becoming a fascist. He was a fascist. But like many national leaders, his contribution to the birth of Bangladesh is undeniable. Therefore, we will give due importance to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman before '72.

A section of freedom fighters may be fascists. But the Liberation War was a struggle of all people. You cannot deny or question the Liberation War or all the freedom fighters just because a section of the freedom fighters became fascist, Islamophobic and murderous. This is treason against the foundation of the state!

We forget that the history of the next 10 years of the Liberation War was a history of struggle between fascist Mujibist freedom fighters and anti-India, patriotic freedom fighters. But for that reason, no freedom fighter against hegemony dared to deny the Liberation War itself. This is the difference between the pro-pekings and others.

Politics in this country must be done by acknowledging the bloody struggle of the people of this country and the birth of Bangladesh. If there is any deviation from this, we will not accept you as a force supporting the pro-Bangladesh mass uprising.

And this mass uprising was an uprising against the fascist Mujib project after the Liberation War, an uprising against Baksal, but it is a historical continuation of the Liberation War. In this mass uprising, the Liberation War was reclaimed from the Sheikh family and the Mujib project.

Bangladeshi supporters must be pro-Liberation War supporters. However, it is also true that many who fought the Liberation War became fascists and followers. Today they have been defeated by the students and the masses. Those who will go against the Liberation War have also been defeated in the past because they went against the oppressed Bangladeshis, and are bound to be defeated in the future.

July has brought an opportunity to unite the nation. We were also interested in reconciling with the League by completing the trial. However, they chose to plot against the country from the shelter of Delhi. You too should not take a stand against history. To save the nation from division, we must move forward by unconditionally accepting '71 and '24.'

Finally, he added more to the status. Mahfuz Alam wrote, July is a student-led uprising of all people in Bangladesh, regardless of religion, caste, and gender. This moderate and future-oriented uprising has no right-left, extreme or soft approach. Therefore, no one should try to tag or threaten the July revolutionaries in the external arena. Instead, make friends with the July revolutionaries.

He also wrote, July is in the line of the masses, on the side of history, you people who threatened the student leadership of July are walking in the opposite direction of history. Let's keep the nation united and participate in the democratic process by reforming the state. 

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said, working against the people will lead to consequences like August 5. That day was proof of what happens if you work against the people.

At that time, he also instructed the leaders and activists to stand by the people.

He said this to the party's leaders and activists at a BNP workshop in Khulna on Tuesday (January 28).

He said, the people of Bangladesh want to trust BNP. Those leaders and activists who want to destroy this trust will be expelled from the party. And here we have to be selfish. We have come here today after making many sacrifices.

The BNP Acting Chairman said, if the BNP comes to power in the government, legal action will be taken along with the expulsion of those leaders and activists who are involved in tarnishing the party's image, extortion and various misdeeds. There will be no leniency in injustice.

Urging the party leaders and activists to present the 31 points to the people, Tarique Rahman said to the party leaders and activists, "You should continue working with the people." The people are our strength. August 5 is proof of what happens when you work against the people.

Former MPs Habibul Islam Habib, Kazi Alauddin and Dr. Shahidul Alam, BNP Chairperson’s adviser and former secretary Ismail Zabiullah, who came from Dhaka as a trainer, Central BNP training secretary Mosharraf Hossain, training committee member Atiqar Rahman Rumon, former MPs Rehana Akhter Banu, Mahbuba Habiba, Bazlur Rahman Khokon and Iqbal Hossain Shyamal, district BNP convener Syed Iftekhar Ali, member secretary Abdul Alim and leaders and activists of district BNP, organs and associate organizations were present at the workshop.