BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said he firmly believes that no autocrat will ever again be able to rise in Bangladesh.
He made the remarks in a post on his verified Facebook page at night.
“I firmly believe that no autocrat will ever be able to rise again on this soil. That is the greatest strength of August 5, 2024. That is our commitment,” Fakhrul wrote.
Reflecting on the political struggle against the previous government, he said the country had fought for more than a decade against what he described as a brutal autocracy, led by Sheikh Hasina, and against what he termed a decaying state system.
The BNP leader claimed that millions of families were devastated during the movement, thousands of people were subjected to enforced disappearance, countless others were killed, the education system was destroyed, the economy was severely damaged and people’s future was pushed into darkness.
“We never gave up. We were led by Khaleda Zia,” he said.
Fakhrul said in July 2024, thousands of people took to the streets, standing for freedom and democracy.
He alleged that hundreds of young people were killed to suppress the movement and claimed that even children standing on balconies and rooftops were not spared.
The BNP secretary general also alleged that Sheikh Hasina ordered gunfire from helicopters and that her forces carried out those orders.
Stating that no autocrat is stronger than the power of the people, he said Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee on August 5, 2024, in the face of the mass uprising led by students and the public.
Fakhrul said this marked the beginning of a “new Bangladesh,” followed by the formation of an interim government.
According to him, a United Nations investigation uncovered evidence of what he described as serious crimes committed during the Hasina administration, while Bangladesh’s tribunal also established those crimes, leading to a verdict and its execution.
The BNP leader further said nearly six months ago, his party formed the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman through a popular mandate.
He said the government had since faced a series of major challenges, including the Middle East conflict, shortages of gas and oil, a measles outbreak and global economic pressures.
“Even then, we have not stopped. We believe that, InshaAllah, we will take this country further forward,” Fakhrul said.
He said he had repeatedly spoken about his beliefs, ideals and the sacrifices made by his predecessors, political leaders, comrades and younger generations.
The BNP leader said those sacrifices were made in pursuit of a dream, to build a self-respecting, developed, prosperous and confident Bangladesh based on the ideals of liberal democracy.
“I still dream that dream today. Even at the age of 78, my belief remains unshaken,:Bangladesh can do it,” he said.
Fakhrul added that his faith lies in the spirit of 1971, his confidence in the youth of 2024, his political ideals in Ziaur Rahman, and his belief in liberal democracy and Bangladeshi nationalist politics.
“My confidence is in the BNP, because history bears witness that time and again, after grave crises, we have brought this nation back to the path of light,” he said.
Fakhrul expressed hope that, inspired by the sacrifices of the martyrs and the dreams, talent and hard work of millions of people, Bangladesh will become a country governed by the rule of law, democracy and human dignity.