Staff Reporter:
Only holding an election can ensure that the country’s people will be free from fear, oppression and political uncertainty in future, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.
“We are reminded of the values of justice, resilience, and unity. The people of Bangladesh deserve a future free from fear, oppression, and political uncertainty. The path forward is clear – a swift return to democracy through a free and fair election,” he said at an iftar party at a city hotel on Thursday in honour of foreign diplomats posted in Bangladesh and civil society members.
Senior leaders of the party exchanged pleasantries with the guests before the iftar party which was followed by dinner.
Mirza Fakhrul said the 5 August Mass Uprising was, in fact, the outburst of the people’s long-accumulated anguish against the fascist Hasina regime.
The July-August movement didn’t suddenly emerge; rather, it was part of the long-standing struggle of democracy loving people of Bangladesh, he said.
He said BNP and other pro-democratic parties led the movement while the uprising represents the collective freedom of the entire nation. “It is a triumph of shared resilience and a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Bangladeshi people.”
An independent UN investigation revealed that around 1,400 people, including women and 118 children, were brutally killed by the fallen fascist regime during the July-August crackdown, said the BNP secretary general.
At least 523 activists of BNP sacrificed their lives in the July-August Mass Uprising, he said.
Besides, during the last decade and a half, thousands of BNP activists were killed, thousands fell victims of enforced disappearances and cross fire, and more than 6 million BNP people were implicated in false and politically motivated cases, he continued.
“Today, I express my sincere gratitude to the Almighty Allah for granting us the opportunity to breathe freely and sit together in a fascist-free Bangladesh after fifteen long years,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul also paid deepest homage to the martyrs of the July-August Mass Uprising and to those who had sacrificed their lives in democratic movement in the last 15 years for the restoration of democracy.
“I express my utmost sympathy to those who got crippled permanently, got blinded with bullets and endured injuries of different kinds,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul said after the fall of the fascist Hasina regime, a new interim government has been entrusted with the responsibility of running the government for a smooth and peaceful transition to democracy.
The BNP leader said their party remains committed to upholding democracy, accountability, rule of law, good governance, justice, and human rights in light of the UN Charter.
“While welcoming the reform ideas agreed on the basis of political consensus, we have already committed to transformative reforms outlined in the “31-point structural reforms of Bangladesh” envisioned by BNP and other pro-democratic political parties of Bangladesh back in 2023,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul also said they want to work closely with the country’s partners to ensure the collective progress of this region through democracy and liberal trade partnerships, and look forward to enhancing more people-to-people interactions in the coming days.
“We also want to ensure that Bangladesh’s political fate will be decided by only its people,” he said.
He said they expect that the country’s global friends and partners will respect the global norms of “non-interference”, “sovereignty”, and “peaceful resolution of dispute” for a collective growth.
“Let us all work for a peaceful, prosperous, and compassionate world where our future generation will be able to live happily,” the BNP secretary general said.
On behalf of the BNP, its Chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman, he conveyed warmest goodwill to the guests of the friendly nations and their citizens for their prosperity and well-being.
“Ramadan reminds us of the principles of patience, sacrifice and justice which remain at the core of every nation. From Bangladesh to Palestine, may the blessings of Ramadan bring peace and harmony across the world,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
Ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of different countries stationed in Dhaka, including the US, the UK, the European Union, India, Japan, China, Russia, Netherland, Switzerland, Sweden, Nepal, South Korea, Germany, Canada, Italy and UAE, attended the programme.
The programme was also attended by country representatives of UNDP, World Bank, Visiting Senior Diplomat of the USA Jon Danilowicz and others.
BNP Standing Committee Members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamir Uddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salah Uddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Vice Chairmen Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Abdul Awal Mintu, Chairperson’s Advisory Council Members Fazle Elahi Akbar, Abdul Qayyum, Ismail Zabihullah, Bijon Kanti Sarkar, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Tanvirul Islam, Enamul Haque, Central Leaders Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, Rashiduzzaman Millat, Shama Obaid, Mir Helal, Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, Tabith Awal, Ishraq Hossain, Mahmuda Habiba, Farzana Sharmin Putul, Atikur Rahman Ruman, Shairul Kabir Khan, Shamsuddin Didar and BNP Chairperson’s Private Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar participated in the iftar.
Also present were Professor Mahbub Ullah, Shafiq Rehman, retired Major General Moniruzzaman, Debapriya Bhattacharya, Badiul Alam Majumder, Kamal Ahmed, Borhan Uddin Khan, Tofail Ahmed, Shahiduz Zaman, John Rosario, editors Matiur Rahman (Prothom Alo), Mahfuz Anam (Daily Star), Toufiq Imroz Khalidi (bdnews24.com), AMM Bahauddin (Dainik Inqilab), Abdul Hai Sikder (Dainik Jugantor), Kamal Uddin Sabuj (Desh Rupantor), Hasan Hafiz (Kaler Kantho) and Rezaul Karim Lotus (Daily Sun) and others.
