Though the BNP leader marked the birthday unceremoniously, family members and party leaders and activists greeted him on the occasion.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman also wished him from London over phone, BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
Fakhrul was born on January 26, 1948 in Thakurgaon. His father late Mirza Ruhul Amin was a Muslim League leader and a minister of the Pakistan government.
BNP leaders and activists gathered at their Nayapaltan central office in the morning and greeted Fakhrul as he entered it around 11:30am.
Later, talking to journalist, Fakhrul said, “Wishing an elderly person like me on the birthday means remembering the death. I’ve lost another year from my life. I’m now closer to death as I turned 71.”
Fakhrul, who had involvement with left politics during his student life, completed his graduation and post-graduation from Dhaka University’s Economics department.
Later, he took up teaching as his profession through the BCS examination. Fakhrul quit teaching during the 80s and joined politics formally.
He elected MP from Thakurgaon-1 seat with BNP’s ticket in 2001 and was made a state minister. He was also elected MP from Bogura-6 seat in the 11th parliamentary election. But he did not take oath yet as BNP rejected the election results.
Fakhrul was made acting secretary general of BNP after the death of party’s then secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain in 2011. He was given the full charge of the party’s secretary general position five years later in 2016.