Dhaka, Jan. 10 -- BNP leader Tarique Rahman has vowed to steer Bangladesh in the "right direction" if his party is elected to form the next government, stressing the need to protect democratic norms and avoid a return to the political landscape that existed before Aug 5, 2024.

Speaking at a meeting with editors and journalists from newspapers, television, radio, news agencies and online platforms in Dhaka on Saturday, Tarique said Bangladesh must not go back to the period before the student-led mass uprising that toppled the Awami League government.

"We had problems in the past and we still have problems. We don't want to go back to the pre-August 5 days. There's no reason for us to do that," he said.

He urged political parties and cit...