Bangladesh held its parliamentary election on Thursday, resulting in a landslide victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The party’s chairman Tarique Rahman, who is set to become prime minister of the world’s eighth-most populous country, delivered the following victory speech, translated into English:
Dear Bangladesh, dear countrymen, Assalamu Alaikum.
The freedom-loving, democracy-loving people of the country have once again made the BNP victorious. Alhamdulillah. This victory belongs to Bangladesh. This victory belongs to democracy. I dedicate this victory to the people. From today, we are all free.
I extend my sincere congratulations to all the people of the country. By overcoming all obstacles, we have paved the way for establishing democracy in the country. We are starting our journey amidst a situation featuring a fragile economy left behind by fascism, dysfunctional constitutional and statutory institutions, and a weak law and order situation.
Because of your spontaneous participation, after more than a decade, a parliament and government accountable to the people are being established in the country through the people’s direct vote. We must remain united, Insha’Allah, so that no evil force can establish fascism in the country again or turn the country into a subservient state.
51 political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and Gono Odhikar Parishad, participated in this election. I extend sincere congratulations to every political party that participated in the national election.
In a democratic state and politics, political parties are primarily the vehicles of democracy. We firmly believe that if the government and the opposition play responsible roles from their respective positions, democracy will certainly take an institutional form in the country.
I call upon every participating democratic political party: your thoughts on nation-building are extremely important to us. Our paths and opinions may differ, but we are all one regarding the country. I believe national unity is our strength, and division is our weakness.
Dear countrymen, overcoming all doubts created in the public mind, a peaceful, free, fair, and neutral election has finally been held in the country. For this, I give special thanks to the Interim Government and the Election Commission. Your contribution to holding this election expected by the people will remain memorable in the history of democracy.
To the judicial officials, public administration, armed forces, and all officers and members of law enforcement agencies involved in holding a neutral election, as well as the Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, and Polling Officers—without your sincerity and responsible roles, a free and fair election would not have been possible. Thank you very much.
The role of local and foreign media and observers in this election was also extremely important. Sincere greetings to you as well.
From the war to achieve independence in ’71 to the war to protect the country and people’s independence in 2024—during this long period, those who were martyred and injured in the movement to establish democracy, and upon whose blood and sacrifice this democratic Bangladesh stands today—I pay deep respect to all those heroic martyrs. I pray to Almighty Allah for their forgiveness (Magfirat). The people of the democratic country will remember the role of those who gave their lives and were injured in the struggle to establish human rights with deep respect, Insha’Allah.
Dear countrymen, upon receiving the people’s mandate, BNP presented a roadmap for state repair. Through exchanging views with other democratic parties and the people of the entire country, the ’31 Points’ were formulated. The party manifesto has been declared in light of these 31 points. At the same time, BNP also signed the July Charter with notes and dissent on a few issues. We will implement every pledge made to the people in phases, Insha’Allah.
Today is an extremely important and joyful time for the democratic people of the country, in addition to the leaders, activists, and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at all levels across the country. In such a joyous atmosphere, the absence of the uncompromising leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, has made us heavy-hearted. She fought an uncompromising battle against fascism in expectation of such a democratic time for establishing people’s rights in the state and politics. She never compromised with autocracy or fascism. She remained steadfast and unwavering on questions of the country and people’s interests. We pray to Allah for the forgiveness (Magfirat) of the late Khaleda Zia.
Dear countrymen, the people of the country have once again given the mandate to run the state to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), established by the announcer of independence. To repay the trust and love the people have shown toward BNP, we must work unitedly through tireless efforts to improve the people’s standard of living.
Now, thanking the BNP leaders, activists, and supporters at all levels across the country, I want to say: even after hundreds of tortures and oppressions, you did not leave the streets. You were steadfast and unyielding in the struggle to establish democracy. Now it is our turn to build the country. In the journey of reconstructing the country, you, I, and all of us must play a responsible role.
We have celebrated this victory of establishing democracy and human rights calmly, peacefully, and responsibly. I call upon the BNP leaders and activists at all levels across Bangladesh to remain calm and alert despite hundreds of provocations so that no untoward incident occurs anywhere in Bangladesh during the election. So that no evil force can take advantage of the situation to cause any unpleasant events.
For this reason, even after achieving an absolute victory post-election, I forbade the leaders and activists of BNP and allied parties at all levels across the country from bringing out victory processions. We observed the victory by offering gratitude to Allah.
My statement is clear. Peace and discipline must be maintained at any cost. We will not tolerate any kind of injustice or illegal activity. Regardless of party, opinion, religion, or color, we will not accept attacks by the strong upon the weak under any excuse. Justice will be the ideal.
If the rule of law cannot be established, all our efforts may fail. In establishing the rule of law, the law is equal for every Bangladeshi citizen, whether from the ruling party, the opposition, or holding a different opinion. The law will be applied according to statutory rules.
While competing against each other or one party against another in the election, misunderstandings may have been created among yourselves in some places on the election field. However, I earnestly call upon everyone to remain alert so that such disputes do not turn into revenge or vengeance.
My call to the democratic people of the country: just as we played a role in the fight to establish democracy, let us now play a role from our respective positions to establish Bangladesh as a safe, humane Bangladesh by controlling corruption and law and order, and through accountability to the people.
I seek the cooperation of everyone, including those of different parties or opinions, in the journey to establish a safe, humane, democratic Bangladesh. I conclude my speech by again extending victory congratulations and thanks to all democratic powers of the world, all expatriate Bangladeshis, and the freedom-loving people of the country.
Allah Hafiz. Bangladesh Zindabad.