The constitution stands as a document of Jamaat-e-Islami's defeat, and that is precisely why the party wants to throw it away, said Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Friday.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organized by the Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal at the National Press Club in Dhaka, marking the Independence and National Day 2026.
Nurul Islam Moni said the true meaning of independence lies in ensuring the fundamental rights of ordinary people and providing fair value for their labor. "The right of a rickshaw puller to earn his livelihood, the right of a farmer to cultivate his land, and ensuring just compensation for their sweat and toil �" that is the real essence of independence," he said, adding that restoring people's right to earn a decent living should be the core objective of independence.
The chief whip said that after prolonged democratic movements, the people of Bangladesh have now begun to enjoy the fruits of independence, and a model of good governance has been established under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarek Rahman. He noted that ensuring the fundamental rights of ordinary citizens remains the government's top priority.
Reflecting on the post-independence period, Nurul Islam said the country had faced famine, starvation, and a severe deterioration in law and order. He credited late President Ziaur Rahman with playing a pivotal role in resolving the food crisis through his canal-digging program, which eventually transformed Bangladesh into a food-exporting nation.
On the July Charter, the chief whip said BNP is committed to its implementation through a systematic and lawful process to avoid any legal complications. Criticizing the opposition, he said they keep shifting their positions, sometimes demanding local government elections, sometimes reforms, and sometimes constitutional changes. He added that although the opposition had demanded a proportional representation system before the elections, many democratic countries around the world do not follow such a system. "We made it clear that the election process would not be obstructed under the pretext of implementing any unreasonable demand," he said.
Criticizing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the chief whip said he had surrendered while leaving the nation's independence unprotected, and that his party, the Awami League, siphoned off 27 lakh crore taka from the country.
Speaking about Prime Minister Tarek Rahman, Nurul Islam described him as a frugal leader who does not use central air conditioning in his office and remains available even when called at 3 a.m. He said Tarek Rahman introduced the Farmer Card and the Family Card and proposed that no individual should serve as prime minister for more than two terms.
The chief whip also highlighted that Ziaur Rahman established multi-party democracy and press freedom, a legacy that has enabled numerous media outlets to operate in the country today. He further noted that significant development and improvement in living standards were achieved during the tenure of Begum Khaleda Zia.
The event was presided over by Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal president Humayun Kabir Bepari. Among the speakers were Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator and freedom fighter Abdus Salam and Ekushey Padak-winning Professor Sukomal Barua. Party leaders, activists, and media professionals were also present at the program.
