Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the BNP, issued a warning on Saturday that the populace will not put up with inept leadership.

In order to improve relations with the public and earn their trust, he also asked the interim government to show that it is committed to protecting people’s right to vote by holding a genuine election while addressing a council.

“The interim government has already taken an initiative to restructure the Election Commission. People expect to cast their votes freely and without fear, in a neutral and transparent environment, to elect their representatives,” the BNP leader said.

He emphasized that the relationship between the government and the people would grow stronger if the public retained their confidence in the administration. “When people see that the government is genuinely working to uphold their voting and other fundamental rights, their trust in the government will naturally deepen.”

Tarique addressed the concluding session of the third National Council of the Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers Association of Bangladesh as the chief guest at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

He said all the nefarious efforts of plotters would fail if the interim government could meet even the minimum expectations of the people. “If the political and economic empowerment of the people is not ensured, then no matter what we call democracy, development, or reform, none of it will be sustainable,” Tarique added.

He also stressed that the main tool of a citizen’s political power is the right to vote. “If people are not given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, their relationship and partnership with the state cannot be established.”

Tarique alleged that deposed autocrats and their associates, both within the country and abroad, along with certain elements within the administration, are actively working to undermine the interim government. “If they succeed in destabilizing this government, they will also fail democracy and the millions of Bangladeshis who cherish democratic values,” the BNP leader said.

In this context, he said, some decisions of the interim government seem to disregard the aspirations of the people, instead imposing what the government believes is best for them.

“Despite numerous dissatisfactions and shortcomings, the people wish to maintain their trust in the government. But does the government want that? If the trust between the government and the people is strong and resilient, the conspirators will not succeed in their schemes,” he added.

Speaking at the program, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the country is facing a very critical time. “We must navigate this period with great caution,” he remarked.

He urged the interim government to expedite necessary electoral reforms to ensure credible and acceptable elections, in line with the people’s expectations.

Tarique also called on BNP leaders and activists to preserve the party’s image by refraining from any wrongdoing and standing firm against all forms of injustice.