Staff Reporter:
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said there is no alternative but to hold the national election within the announced timeframe.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the unveiling and publication ceremony of Roktakto July, a book written by Syeda Fatema Salam, at the National Press Club on Friday morning.
Fakhrul cautioned that if the election is not held, the danger of fascism returning would grow stronger. “Efforts are underway to bring back fascism not only from within the country but also from abroad,” he added.
Addressing BNP leaders and activists, the Secretary General issued a warning: “Do not assume that you are already in power. We have not even come close to power yet. Many conspiracies and plots still lie ahead. To reach the people, we must work honestly and sincerely.”
On the roadmap for democratic transition, Fakhrul said that achieving the desired goals was possible if political parties moved forward collectively. “Our struggle seems to be losing momentum,” he lamented.
He noted that political differences were natural, but under the current circumstances people were becoming confused, and uncertainty over the election was deepening.
Fakhrul stressed that a free, fair and impartial election was the only path to establishing the desired state system.
The BNP leader also reminded that his party had always been in favour of reforms. “Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman introduced multi-party democracy and press freedom in the country, while Khaleda Zia established parliamentary democracy,” he said.
Criticising some political parties, Fakhrul alleged that false propaganda was being spread to undermine BNP. “No one should be given the chance to brand BNP as bad,” he asserted.
He further said that the people of the country were eager for change, and it was BNP’s responsibility to turn that aspiration into reality.
The programme was presided over by poet and journalist Abdul Hai Shikdar, while Dr Mahdi Amin, adviser to BNP’s acting chairman, was the keynote speaker.
