Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a BNP Standing Committee member, said on Friday that the nation must unite to thwart any attempt to obstruct or delay the next election, calling for this to be done in the spirit of November 7.
Speaking at a large public meeting in Chattogram, he urged against creating division over the "July Charter." "You have seen that a consensus commission was formed—a committee to create unity," he said. "Their job is to build a consensus with all parties. We have repeatedly said your role is to create a consensus by sitting with all parties."
"Consensus does not mean that all parties will agree on everything," he explained. "On issues where there is consensus, we will move towards the election. On issues where there is no consensus, every political party has the opportunity to take them to the people before the next election and pass them in parliament with a public mandate. There is no opportunity to do anything beyond this. There is no opportunity to go beyond consensus."
The meeting was held near the Biplob Udyan on Friday afternoon to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
Stating that the movement will not end until the elections are held, Amir Khasru said, "Today's BNP must remember that the movement is not over yet. For the next three, four, five months—until the country's elections are over and an elected government is formed through a fair election in February—the BNP movement will not end. Just as we have been united for the past 17 years and secured victory for the BNP, we must also be united to secure the BNP's victory now. The people of Bangladesh want to see Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister. So, there is no chance of breaking this unity."
He concluded with a message from Tarique Rahman: "At this critical juncture for the country, we should not create any kind of misunderstanding among ourselves. We will work hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, and make Tarique Rahman the Prime Minister by winning a huge vote for the 'paddy' [BNP's electoral symbol] in the next election, Insha'Allah."
Other speakers, including Mahbuber Rahman Shamim and Dr. Shahadat Hossain, echoed these sentiments, praising the historical significance of November 7 and expressing confidence that Tarique Rahman would become the next Prime Minister.
