'We've Nothing to Do if India Faces Public Resentment after Sheltering Autocrat'

Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said that they (his party) have nothing to do if India faces resentment from the people of Bangladesh after sheltering the autocrat. 

He also added that people of Bangladesh have decided to remain calm towards them (India), so they (his party) must stand with the people.

Tarique Rahman made these remarks in an exclusive video interview with BBC Bangla that was aired on Tuesday. The interview, conducted by Mir Sabbir, Editor of BBC Bangla, and Kadir Kallol, Senior Journalist at BBC Bangla, was published on BBC Bangla in two parts. The first part was published on Monday. 

In the second and final part, he discussed reforms, Bangladesh-India relations and a range of political issues. 

"We have nothing to do if India faces resentment from the people of Bangladesh after sheltering the autocrat. The people of Bangladesh have decided to remain calm towards them, so I must stand with my country's people," he replied when asked about deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's stay in India and the current relations.

The BNP’s Acting Chairman also said that the core principle of his party's diplomacy is simple — Bangladesh comes first.

“In foreign policy, BNP’s guiding philosophy is ‘Bangladesh first.’ My people, my country, my sovereignty — everything else comes after safeguarding these interests,” he said.

When asked whether this could be seen as part of a global political trend — like US President Donald Trump’s “America First” slogan — Tarique Rahman replied, “No, that’s what they said for themselves. I am a Bangladeshi. To me, Bangladesh’s interests come first. The interests of the Bangladeshi people come first. So, whatever others say… Bangladesh first. It’s simple, nothing complicated about it.”

In response to another question, he said, “I think I’ve already made the whole matter clear through my previous answers. Bangladesh comes first. You’ve mentioned a particular country, but that’s not the point — whether it’s that country or another. The main thing is that Bangladesh’s interests and the interests of its people come first for me. Whatever I do, I will do keeping that principle upheld.”

Tarique Rahman further added that among the existing political parties active in the field, it is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that possesses the necessary experience to govern the country.

“At this moment, the political parties that are active on the ground—Insha’Allah, we can assume that these parties are capable of running the country in the future. Among them, BNP already has experience in governance,” he said. 

Tarique Rahman further said the BNP has both the experience and commitment to deliver on its promises. “We have learnt from experience, and guided by that, we will be able to assess what is right and what is wrong. Most importantly, we have the commitment to deliver—and we are determined to do so,” he said.