BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has urged the nation to curb corruption “at any cost” to ensure Bangladesh’s overall progress, saying the party is prepared to take tough measures if entrusted with governance.

Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion under the party’s “Plan to Build the Nation” campaign on Sunday (7 December), Tarique Rahman said controlling corruption and improving the law-and-order situation must be top priorities.

“Corruption must be reined in at any cost, and law-and-order must be stabilised at any cost. Otherwise, the country will suffer,” he warned. “If we are able to form the government, our first task will be to take firm control over corruption and law-and-order.”

He claimed that only the BNP has the capacity to effectively combat corruption, asserting that the party had done so in the past and could do so again.

Tarique Rahman also alleged that a certain political group is currently conducting misinformation campaigns against the BNP in the manner of previous authoritarian regimes. He noted that two senior figures from that party had served as ministers during BNP administrations and had stood by Begum Khaleda Zia “until the end” because of her anti-corruption stance.

Calling for nationwide unity, he urged citizens to come forward collectively to “build the country” amid what he described as a challenging period ahead.

“To change people’s lives for the better, everyone must work shoulder-to-shoulder,” he said. “Difficult times are coming; conspiracies are ongoing in many forms. With the people by our side, the BNP can resist these conspiracies. Only democracy can defeat all conspiracies.”

He further alleged that “anarchy prevails in every sector” of the country at present.

The BNP continues its series of programmes highlighting what it describes as urgent national reforms ahead of the next political transition.