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protect ourselves, our families, the people of the country, and overall Bangladesh, we all must remain united at any cost.

“So, we take the first vow at this council that all BNP leaders and workers will remain united under any circumstances. Our second pledge is that, with the people, we’ll build the country by maintaining unity,” he said.

The BNP leader said there could be differences of opinion among democratic parties and organisations on various political issues, including the future function of parliament, its tenure, the tenure of governments -- both interim and elected -- and the limit for a person’s tenure as prime minister.

“We can resolve these issues through discussions. But if we engage in excessive debates on these matters, we will fall behind in rebuilding the country,” he said.

Tarique said the country and its people would suffer if the rebuilding activities of Bangladesh were hindered. “We’ll sit together and engage in discussions. If we can’t resolve it in one sitting, we’ll continue to meet and find solutions through dialogue.”

He said the people of Bangladesh have not had the right to vote in the last 15 years, as the Awami League government took it away at gunpoint in the name of dummy, voter-less, and rigged elections.

The BNP leader also accused the Hasina regime of destroying all institutions and plundering significant amounts of money in the name of development, as it had no accountability to the people.

He said the government’s accountability is ensured when the people can elect their representatives through their votes.

At another programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Hasina continued to conspire against the country from Delhi.