Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
Bangladesh may turn despotic like North Korea if opposition movement fails: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday warned that Bangladesh may turn into a tightly “regimented authoritarian” state like North Korea if their 10-point movement fails.
Speaking at a discussion, he also alleged that the Awami League government is completely destroying the main pillars of the state by introducing its own rules, regulations, and constitution.
“We’ve to make a decision whether we want to see the existence of Bangladesh and the restoration of democracy here. Otherwise, it’ll become a completely regimented authoritarian country like North Korea,” the BNP leader said.
He said the ongoing 10-point movement is only not an agitation of the BNP or any alliance. "This movement is a struggle for the survival of all 18 crore people of the country. So, let’s take to the streets to make it a success"
Fakhrul said their party’s 17 leaders and activists have already lost their lives in the movement that began on August 22 last year.
“Let's involve more people with our movement to establish a government and parliament of people through a credible election under a caretaker government and a neutral election commission by ousting the current regime,” he said urging the political parties.
The 12-party alliance arranged the discussion titled “The Importance and Necessity of the 27-Point Proposal in Building Future Bangladesh” at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Fakhrul alleged that a serious scandalous incident took place over the annual elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the government broke the election system of the apex court lawyers’ body.
“The lawyers of the apex court of the country are called officers of the court. Holding the annual election of those who work in that court or cooperate in the judicial system is a tradition and everyone respect it. But what happened yesterday (Wednesday) in that election is a most stigmatised and disgraceful incident for the nation and the judicial system of the country,” he observed.
He also said the untoward incident over the SCBA election has exposed there is no democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh. “I also doubt whether there is any government in the country.”
The BNP leader said the SCBA polls had long been held in a fair and cordial atmosphere conducted by the lawyers. "But they (AL) broke this system yesterday (Wednesday). They also broke the election system of the Jatiya Press Club. It means that the Awami League whose only goal now is to completely break the main pillars of the state…they have already broken it. They have introduced their own rules, regulations, constitution.”
Fakhrul slammed the government for its plan to reduce the width of the Jamuna River to 6.5 kilometres from 15 kilometres.
“The Jamuna River has been flowing for thousands of years in our country. Rivers cause problems like floods and inundation…But how will you justify the idea of narrowing this river and a Tk12,000 crore project in this regard?” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the government is taking such a project as it has become completely shameless.
Fakhrul bemoaned that some intellectuals and professionals speak in support of the current governing system of Awami League and its president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “They extremely indulge in flattery. I feel bad thinking about for what type of country we had fought (in 1971). Now we scream that we did not want such a country.”
Read more: AL 'helping big power' make Bangladesh a subservient country: BNP
He said the freedom fighters liberated the country with an aim to establish democracy, ensure freedom of expression, equality, people’s dignity and their right to vote and the rule of law.
The BNP leader also said people are going through a very tough time due to the unusual hikes in all the essential commodities.
He said there are two things--terrorism and theft—in Awami League’s body chemistry. “They want to do everything by force and indulge in theft in every case.”
Fakhrul alleged that Information Minister Hasan Mahmud like Goebbels said BNP is trying to destroy stability and it is preparing for arson violence. “It’s you (AL) who have introduced arson violence in the country…It was you who brought the provisions of the caretaker government by enforcing hartals for 173 days along with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jatiya Party.”
He recalled that the Awami League killed 11 people by setting a bus on fire with gunpowder in the capital during their hartal demanding the introduction of the caretaker government system. “People were beaten to death with oars and logs. They (AL) now say it (caretaker system) is not there in any civilised country.”
The BNP leader said a caretaker government system is necessary for Bangladesh as those who are now in power are not civilized. They have destroyed the electoral system."
Read more: ‘BNP will swallow the entire country if it returns to power’
Fakhrul calls AL a 'pathological thief’
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the Awami League of rigging votes in Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections and branded the ruling party as a 'pathological thief'.
He said, “Their (AL’s) only aim is to indulge in theft. We usually call them vote thieves. They rig votes in the national elections and even in Union Parishad polls. “Now they rigged votes in the Supreme Court and Dhaka Bars. In fact, they are pathological thieves,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion programme, the BNP leader also said Awami League does nothing, but steal. “They make their living by stealing and it is their profession and addiction…They also depleted the country’s resources through theft.”
He also alleged that the ruling party destroyed the country's power sector by indulging in widespread stealing.
Regarding the SCBA polls, Fakhrul said there was a ruckus in the Supreme Court after false and stamped ballot papers were found there on Tuesday night, the night before the election. “They (pro-AL lawyers) assaulted our seven-time elected Supreme Court Bar Secretary (Mahbubuddin Khokon) and wounded him. “
He also said a case was filed against 1,000 pro-BNP lawyers, including Khokon, over the incident.
“What country do we live in now? Where have we brought this country to? Awami League has to answer the people for this. They have taken this country to extreme destruction. They have destroyed all our culture, traditions and democratic values. They have destroyed all our democratic institutions…” the BNP leader bemoaned.
The two-day voting in SCBA elections started around 10 am on Wednesday, but it was suspended immediately when some pro-BNP lawyers staged demonstrations demanding the formation of an election conducting committee led by a neutral person.
Read more: AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul
The discussion programme was arranged at the Jatiya Press Club marking the launching of the book titled “Amar Rajnitir Rojnamcha” written by BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Fakhrul said Awami League does not believe in justice, fairness and democracy. “That is why they established a one-party Baksal rule in 1975 by destroying democracy and shutting down all newspapers and dissenting opinions.
He feared that there is no guarantee that Khandaker Mosharraf’s book, Amar Rajnitir Rojnamcha, would not be banned by the current Awami League regime.
The BNP leader said various media outlets, including Bangladesh Times, Bichitra, Channel1, Islamic TV and Diganta TV were shut down during the rules of Awami League. “But this party again claims they have given democracy an institutional shape.”
He said the country’s people have now turned their backs on the present government as they are now unable to buy rice, lentils, salt, eggs and other daily essentials due to unusual hikes in their prices.
Fakhrul also said 42 percent of people in Bangladesh are now living below the poverty line while 80 percent of people cannot eat protein like beef, chicken, mutton and fish. “But in that country, they have frequently increased the prices of electricity and gas.”
He said that the government is now going to take advance income tax as the coffers have got exhausted. “They (AL leaders) are stealing from the banks and the reserves…the people of the country have woken up to defeat this regime through a movement.”
Musharraf said he wrote the book to share his long experiences, thoughts and actions as a university teacher and a politician.
"Politicians of our country can hardly manage time to write books as they remain so busy with politics…I got some time while in jail and used it for writing the book. I did it (wrote the book) for the present and future generations. I strongly believe it’ll be useful to them.”
‘What about our constitutional right?’
Reacting to Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir calling the Ahmadiyya community’s recent religious event in Panchagarh “controversial”, a spokesperson of the community said it “goes against their constitutional right”.
“The government gave permission to hold this controversial event,” Fakhrul said in a press conference on March 13, video of which has generated reaction among netizens on social media.
Speaking on the issue, Ahmad Tabsir Chowdhury, a spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya community, said, “First, Mirza Fakhrul puts the blame squarely on the government, saying the attack on our religious event was staged by the government to divert public attention, and now he finds it convenient to call our congregation ‘controversial’.”
Also Read: Fakhrul says govt allowed the Ahmadiyya religious event, calls it ‘controversial’
Referring to their constitutional right, Ahmad said, “Our religious gathering was set to be held within our premises. We have a right to hold such peaceful events.”
Ahmad questioned: “How can he disregard our rights by calling our congregation ‘controversial’? We didn’t seek permission from the government to hold our event in a busy commercial area like Paltan in Dhaka. Rather, we planned to hold it inside our premises, it was on our property.”
“When such irresponsible remarks come directly from a major political leader like Fakhrul, we are gravely disheartened,” the Ahmadiyya community spokesperson said.
He further requested all political parties to at least maintain a modicum of decency while making comments on issues involving any minority community.
Also Read: Govt orchestrated attacks on Ahmadiyya only to gain political mileage: Fakhrul
Fakhrul’s remark came at a time when Basherkella – a pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Twitter account – condemned police action to stop the violence over the Ahmadiyya religious event and called for “boycotting” the community. The Ahmadiyya community has called it a “hate campaign” against them.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum issued a statement on March 5, asking the government to officially declare the Ahmadiyya community “non-Muslim”.
BNP demands cancellation of power deal with Adani
Terming anti-state the government’s power deal with the Indian Adani Group, BNP on Thursday demanded immediate cancellation of the agreement.
“People of Bangladesh have already received a copy of the contract with Adani Group. This is an extremely uneven deal signed with an ulterior motive,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion, he said the question has now arisen in different countries of the world about how a government can ink such an agreement as the Washington Post exposed the Bangladesh government’s power agreement with the Adani group.
“This agreement with Adani is against the country and its people. I would like to say this deal must be repealed immediately. At the same time, the indemnity act for the power sector should be revoked,” he said.
Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB) arranged the programme titled “Catastrophe in the Power Sector: Economy in Deep Crisis” at a city hotel. AEB secretary general Engineer Hasin Ahmed delivered the key-note speech.
Fakhrul said the Awami League government could sign the deal with Adani as it has no compassion and responsibility for the people of Bangladesh. “This government has also no accountability to the people of Bangladesh. They steal money and siphon off it abroad to build houses, do business and live a life of luxury by cutting the pockets of our common people."
Read more: Power deal with Adani Group unnecessary, uneven: Fakhrul
He said the ruling party leaders are also plundering public money to use it during the next general election to ensure their victory as they did during the 2018 polls.
“They’ll again rig the election with money. They’ll give money to various institutions involved in conducting the election... envelopes containing money will go to all levels from the presiding officers to the police, BGB, and even those who will act as the striking force. This is true as it happened in 2018," the BNP leader said.
He said they have come to know that the government is making a new strategy to use the members of Ansar and VDP to rig votes in the next polls.
The BNP leader said the government has also been using a new strategy in the local body polls for ensuring the victory of the ruling party candidates by changing the results of different centers. “(Monirul Haque) Sakku of Cumilla is one of such victims”
Dr Zafrullah for repealing ‘anti-state’ power deal with Adani Group
Fakhrul, Abbas get permanent bail in Nayapaltan clash case
The High Court (HC) on Wednesday granted permanent bail to BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas in a case over the clash between police and the party activists at Nayapaltan on December 7 last year that left one dead.
An HC bench of Justice Md Selim Azad and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan passed the order after hearing a rule in this regard.
Advocates Jainul Abedin and Sagir Hossain stood for the BNP leaders while Additional Attorney General SM Munir and Deputy Attorney General SM Golam Mostafa represented the state.
Terming the rule as absolute, the HC granted permanent bail to them, said counsel Sagir.
On the other hand, state counsel Munir said they would take a decision on appeal against the HC order after discussion.
On December 9 last year, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital.
Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas.
On January 3, the High Court granted six months bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in the case.
Read more: State files petition challenging HC bail to Fakhrul, Abbas
On the following day, the government filed a petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking stay on the High Court order granting bail to the BNP leaders in the case.
On January 8, A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foyez Siddiqui upheld the High Court order granting bail to the BNP leaders.
Just after a month of their arrest, Fakhrul and Abbas were freed from jail on bail on January 9 evening.
People can no longer bear burden of increased power tariff: BNP
Strongly protesting the fresh hike in power tariffs, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said people are repeatedly paying the prices of the government's limitless irregularities and plundering in the power sector.
In a statement, he urged the government to revoke its unjustified decision of hiking the power prices, saying people will no longer be able to bear the burden of the increased power tariffs.
“People are already going through ordeals due to the government’s failure, corruption, looting, mismanagement, and wrong policies. Amid such a situation, frequently increasing the prices of power is an anti-people, strange and unjustified decision of the government,” Fakhrul said.
Just 19 days ago, he said the price of power at the retail level was increased by the government.
Also Read: Power tariff further raised at both bulk and retail levels, effective from tomorrow
“The hike in the prices of power further at the retail and wholesale levels just after 19 days is a manifestation of the anti-people character of the government,” he said.
The BNP leader feared that the prices of all essential items will go up further with the fresh hike in power tariffs. “People can no longer bear this burden.”
He said the current government has been frequently increasing the prices of electricity, gas, fuel, edible oil, fertilizers, and other daily necessities as it was not elected by the people. “The government has no regrets about this. Rather it’s telling lies shamelessly in favour of these imprudent moves.”
Fakhrul said the Awami League government has increased electricity prices 11 times in the last 14 years.
He also termed the government’s move as a subtle trick to take the authority of hiking the tariffs of power and fuel from the hands of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission.
The BNP leader alleged that the government has been taking away money from people’s pockets by raising power tariffs only because of plundering and corruption of the government and its followers. “People have now woken up against the government.”
Fakhrul said their party will hold rallies in all divisional cities on February 4 (Saturday) to mount pressure on the government to accept their 10-point demand and lower the prices of power, gas, and daily essentials.
He called upon people from all walks of life to register their protest against the government’s anti-people decisions by making their programme a success with their spontaneous participation.
The government on Tuesday increased the retail power price by 5% and the bulk price by over 8% just 19 days after it had hiked the retail price on January 12 this year.
END/UNB/
Fakhrul lashes out at Somoy TV for report on conviction of Khaleda, Tarique
Amidst several recent media reports quoting Transparency International Bangladesh’s Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman as saying that keeping Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman – sentenced by the court – in BNP’s top leadership “contradicts” the party’s 27-point outline for state reform, which includes stance against corruption, and is a sign of “moral decay”, BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has lashed out at Somoy TV for “running a story” on the issue.
Featuring the BNP leader’s statement, Somoy TV today again relayed the earlier story — defending its position and justification behind the report which also included references to the testimony of a US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent in a money-laundering case against Tarique Rahman.
“That report on our leaders — Tarique Rahman and Begum Zia — is like back-stabbing our democratic movement against the government. As we continue our movement to restore democracy, they should abstain from airing such reports,” Fakhrul said about Somoy TV at a press conference.
While coming down hard on the TV channel, Fakhrul also admitted that “the channel is a mainstream news outlet and is accepted by people of the country as credible.”
Though the BNP leader claimed that no other news outlet except Somoy TV carried such report, a number of media houses, including Shomoyer Alo, UNB and Desh TV, featured the TIB executive director’s remarks on the party.
This development comes after a Somoy TV journalist filed a complaint against BNP activists for “assaulting” him when he was covering the party’s rally held in Nayapaltan, Dhaka on January 16, 2023.
Read more: Media being regulated with various laws: Fakhrul
The Somoy TV report that has seemingly drawn the ire of the BNP leader highlights that both Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia were sentenced by courts. A Dhaka court recently asked the police to confiscate all assets of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The report also makes reference to the law on whether those convicted of corruption can participate in elections.
It also features the TIB executive director observing that BNP is talking about taking a bold position against corruption and at the same time running the party with convicts in top leadership.
The report mostly dwells on the fate of the party under the circumstances.
Referring to BNP’s 27 points, the TIB executive director had earlier wondered whether the party had the capacity to implement them.
“Considering BNP’s history and its experience with people of the country, it can be said that political parties make manifestos. When they come to power, the picture is different, however. In that sense, this is a wish list. Although, many of the issues mentioned are important for Bangladesh,” he said.
In November, 2011, an FBI agent testified in the Tk 20.41 crore money-laundering case filed against BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman and his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun. This was the first time that a US FBI agent testified before a court in Bangladesh.
Debra Laprevotte, a supervisory special agent of the FBI, narrated before a Dhaka court how she had tracked down the money allegedly laundered by Tarique Rahman and Mamun to a bank account in Singapore.
Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. She was convicted in a second corruption case later.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul isn't the type to balk at reporters' questions. Except this one.
Amid the pandemic, the government suspended her jail term for six months through an executive order on March 25, 2020. The government extended her conditional release in the two corruption cases several times.
Mirza Fakhrul steps into 76
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stepped into 76 on Thursday with birthday wishes pouring in for him.
As in previous years, the BNP leader had a low-profile birthday celebration with only family members and party leaders and activists wishing him on the occasion.
Fakhrul woke up in the morning with his elder daughter Mirza Shamaruh wising him ‘happy birthday’ over the phone from Australia followed by his younger daughter Mirza Safaruh and wife Rahat Ara Begum.
Read more: US sanctions on RAB made BNP fearless in anti-government protests: Fakhrul
Talking to UNB, the BNP leader said there was no formal programme to celebrate his birthday, but BNP leaders and activists, his relatives, and friends from home and abroad wished him on the occasion.
Fakhrul said he took breakfast with his wife in the morning at their Uttara residence and then set out for BNP's Nayapaltan central office. “On the way to the office, I received phone calls from my many party colleagues who wished me happy birthday.”
As he reached the BNP office, many leaders and activists present there received him and exchanged birthday greetings.
About his feelings on the birthday, Fakhrul said, “Birthday means I’m losing another year from my life and getting older.”
He said he has no good feelings on the birthday when people are going through a very difficult time and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia passing through a serious ordeal staying under house arrest. “What to say about the birthday in such a situation? I’ve just stepped into 76 and my time is coming to an end.”
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.
Read more: BNP unveils 4-day march programme in Dhaka from Jan 28
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 was elected MP from Thakurgaon-1 with BNP’s ticket in 2001 and then made a state minister. He was also elected MP from the Bogura-6 seat in the 11th parliamentary election. But he did not take oath as BNP rejected the election results.
Fakhrul was made acting secretary general of BNP after the death of the party’s then secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain in 2011. He was given full charge of the party’s secretary general five years later in 2016.
Govt's days are numbered: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the days of current Awami League government are numbered as people will no longer let it stage any more drama in the name of election.
“The days of this government are really numbered…They must go this time,” he told a rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
The BNP leader also said those who destroyed democracy, killed opposition leaders and activists and repressed them in many ways in the democratic movement must quit power to repay that debt.
He alleged that the current government has snatched people’s all rights in a planned way by establishing a one-party Baksal rule in disguise. “So, they want to stage a drama and mockery further in the name of an election…that election won’t be held in this country anymore as people are now ready to get back their voting rights.”
Fakhrul said the current ‘unelected’ government has no relation with the people and their main target is to plunder public money as they consider Bangladesh as their paternal property and the country’s people as their subjects.
Read more: BNP to stage rally in all divisional cities on Feb 4
As part of the ongoing simultaneous movement against the current government, BNP arranged the rally. Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associated bodies joined the parogramme.
The organisers said the programme was meant for registering a protest against the introduction of one-party Baksal rule by the Awami League on January 25, 1975, the rise in the prices of power and gas and mounting pressure on the government to accept their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government.
Fakhrul said Awami will not quit power voluntarily unless they are ousted through a strong movement. “We’re uniting people and the political parties to remove this regime from power.”
The BNP leader also said their ongoing movement will continue as long as the Awami League does not step down and as long as the arrested BNP leaders are not released from jail.
Fakhrul said the nation liberated the country through a bloody war with a dream of establishing a democratic society and state. “This Awami League on this day (January 25) in 1975 annihilated democracy by dashing people’s all hopes and aspirations."
The BNP leaders questioned why Awami League forgets that they first destroyed democracy in the country by establishing Baksal and banning all parties and newspapers.
“The fact is that Awami League never believes in democracy and it can’t tolerate different opinions. Awami League is a terrorist party from the beginning. Their history is the history of terrorism and they always want to cling to power by force and resorting to terrorism.”
Read more: Simultaneous Movement: BNP rally begins at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan
Stating that 17 BNP leaders and activists were killed in the current movement, Fakhrul said Awami League took so many lives only to satisfy its nasty desire to hang onto power illegally.
He bemoaned that people are going through a very tough time as the prices of all essentials and utility services, including power and gas, are going up unusually.
The BNP leader said the government will not reduce the tariffs of power and gas and essential items. “So, this regime must be ousted to establish a government of people.”
President can’t work neutrally
About the presidential election, he said a schedule was announced for the election of the President who has currently no power.
“We respect the chair of the President very much, no matter who the person is and whichever party he/she belongs to. The President is the head of the state,” Fakhrul said.
He, however, said the President now cannot discharge his duty neutrally and cannot do anything against the will of the Prime Minister. “That is why we have made it clear in our 27-point proposal that there should be a balance between the power of the President and the Prime Minister.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said Awami League destroyed the spirit of the Liberation War on January 25, 1975, by establishing one-party Baksal rule by banning all political parties and snatching people’s all rights. “It’s our party founder Ziaur Rahman who restored democracy and the spirit of the Liberation War,” he said.
The BNP leader also said Awami League which was banned during the Baksal rule revived as Zia introduced the multi-party democracy, giving the party fresh chance to do politics in Bangladesh. “So, Awami League is a killer of democracy while BNP is a savior of Democracy.”
Parliament now a one-party club: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government has turned the Jatiya Sangsad into a 'one-party club' by destroying the country’s electoral system.
“They (govt) have destroyed all the democratic institutions. Is it a Parliament that they have formed? They’ve created a one-party club. It’s a club of Awami League,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion meeting the BNP Secretary General also said the government has ruined the electoral system to cling to power by force.
Stating that the electoral system is the gateway of democracy, he said the Parliament and cabinet are supposed to be formed to run the country through a credible election. “But they've destroyed the electoral system. People now do not go to cast their votes.”
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has also destroyed the state structure by hanging onto power through a ‘unilateral’ election with 154 uncontested MPs and through vote robbery and taking votes the night before the polling date. “They have taken all steps to take all the state machinery to their favour.”
Under the current circumstances of the country, he said their party placed a 27-point proposal to reform the state and fix the state institutions. “The 27-point outline is BNP’s dream and we’ll explain it before people. One can never succeed without a dream. We’ll move forward with the dream.”
Bangladesh Sammalita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the programme titled “The 27-Point Framework for State Reform: Explanation and Analysis” at the Jatiya Press Club. On December 19, BNP announced the 27-point framework for state reform.
Fakhrul said their party has been able to create a mass wave of people against the government through their recent 10 divisional rallies and other programmes. "The stormy wave that has begun will wash away the current regime since people are not with them.”
Read more: 5 BNP MPs’ resignation: Election to vacant seats within 90 days, EC says
He said the first demand of their 10-point proposal is the resignation of the Awami League government by dissolving the Parliament for constituting a caretaker government, which will oversee next election.
After that election, the BNP leader said they will form a national government with the partners of their simultaneous movement to implement the 27-point outline.
He urged the BNP leaders and activists not to be frustrated as they are fighting to restore democracy and people’s lost rights, and to protect the country from misrule and fascism. “Why would we be disappointed? We are being successful, and we are moving forward. Hundreds of our leaders and workers went to jail. I have never seen any type of despair on their faces.”
Fakhrul said they have been in an imbalanced fight since their opponents are very powerful having the entire state apparatus, guns, and pistols in their hands. “Indiscriminately they attack us using those and then file cases against us.”
He said a Swechchasebak Dal leader activist Mokbul was killed in police action on December 7 last in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office. “On the contrary, a case was filed against our 450 leaders and workers. So, the bottom line is, we have to protect our existence and save our people.”
The BNP leader also alleged that the government has politicized the entire judicial system, depriving people of justice.
He bemoaned that the media also now cannot enjoy the freedom as they are being forced to exercise self-censorship. “One detective has been attached to every media house. They dictate what to write, create headlines and what to prioritise and what not to prioritise.”
Read more: 5 BNP MPs submit resignation to JS Speaker
Fakhrul, however, praised journalists for what he said and their efforts to present the truth amid so many limitations. “Can you imagine that the editors are facing cases, including for murder charges?”