Autocracy may have forced out of Bangladesh, but an invisible force is now beginning to rear its head, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has warned.

Speaking virtually at the tri-annual conference of Kishoreganj district BNP on Saturday afternoon, he said the vacuum left behind is quietly being occupied by “a rising, unseen power”.

Tarique claimed that 95 percent of the interim government’s recently floated reform agenda mirrors the BNP’s 31-point proposal, which the party had placed before the public more than two and a half years ago.

“BNP was not alone in doing so,” he said. “Other political parties across Bangladesh also offered their views. We may have differences on some issues, but there’s no disagreement when it comes to protecting people’s political rights, their right to vote, their safety, and the right to a livelihood.”

He also urged party members to remain united as the government prepares to hold the national election in early February next year.

“We must stay united at all costs. There is no alternative,” Tarique said. “For the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, nothing is more important than the people of this country.

“We must stand with them, and we must ensure they stand with us -- no matter what it takes,” he added.

Advising caution to party members, Tarique Rahman said that no one should use the party’s name for personal gain or create confusion among the people.

He also said, “Our goal is clear—restore the rights of the people, reclaim democracy, and ensure the country’s development. There is no time to waste in achieving this mission.”