Issuing a warning that extremists and fascists could once again bury democracy in Bangladesh, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said his party, along with other democratic parties, will prioritise maintaining the country’s secular character and strengthening democracy in their future political agenda.

“We would like to draw the attention of the interim government that if it fails to control the evil activities of religious extremists and their radicalism, extremist groups and defeated fascist forces will once again bury democracy in the country,” he told at an iftar party.

The BNP leader also warned that Bangladesh could face a crisis in its image within the democratic world if this happens.

BNP hosted the iftar party at the Ladies Club in the city’s Eskaton area in honour of various political parties.

“To maintain the country’s secular character, the programme to strengthen Bangladesh's democratic system will be the future political settlement of the democratic forces by bringing the fleeing mafia clique, responsible for massacres, to trial at any cost, alongside resisting the evil forces of extremism and religious fundamentalism,” he said.

The BNP leader said that there are plots underway to harm the national unity forged during the mass uprising on the streets, soaked with the blood of several thousand martyrs.

He called upon all leaders and activists at every level of democratic political parties to stay united and uphold national unity. “If we, the pro-independence and democratic forces, remain united, no plot will succeed.”

Tarique also urged the government to provide the public with a clear understanding of its action plan in order to maintain confidence among people. “If the outline of the interim government's activities or action plan were made clearer and more specific to the people, all doubts and hesitations in their minds would be removed,” he said.

The BNP leader said it is true that the Awami mafia government was not overthrown merely to arrange a national election.

“But it is even truer that the mafia regime collapsed brutally due to the failure to hold a fair election. So, there is no room to consider any election simply as a matter of whether a political party can come to power or not,” he observed.

If the impartiality of the interim government is called into question and public trust in its activities is dented, he said the path to democracy could face serious obstacles.

The BNP leader noted that some advisers to the interim government, and even certain political parties, have recently spoken in a slightly different tone regarding the national election.

"We believe that if secondary issues are prioritised under the guise of a new political settlement, instead of honouring public expectations, it will send the wrong message to the people. Such a situation will ultimately pave the way for the resurgence of the cohorts of the mafia regime," he said.

Tarique expressed the public expectation that the interim government will give the highest priority to elections, paving the way for the formation of a ‘democratic government’.

“The term of a government in a state is fixed, but the political policy or political management of the country is long-term. So, it is crucial to ensure the political and economic power of the people to keep the political process strong and sustainable. The people who have been powerless for a long decade and a half are now ready to exercise their right to vote and establish a government,” he said.