Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the legacy of 1971 remains central to the nation’s identity and must always be upheld.
He made the remarks on Thursday evening while speaking on the President’s address in parliament after the Maghrib prayer, in an apparent response to opposition comments.
“If anyone criticises or tries to belittle 1971, it is not acceptable to us,” he said. “That is why, as my colleague mentioned, we must speak about 1971.”
He emphasised that the year symbolises the country’s identity, adding, “It is our identification, our identity. That is why I keep repeating that we must speak about it again and again.”
Praising the leadership of BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul said people across the country are looking toward him with hope.
“The entire nation is looking at this leader who, upon returning to Bangladesh, told everyone, ‘I have a plan.’ That plan is to build the country, to free it from poverty, to expand education, and to ensure healthcare for all,” he said.
He added that the prime minister has already begun implementing these initiatives despite questions from critics about funding. “You can see the work has started, and he has also explained how the funds will be arranged,” Fakhrul noted.
The minister also highlighted several election pledges, including the introduction of family cards and farmer cards.
Referring to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Fakhrul recalled an anecdote from her 2002 visit to China, which he attended as part of her delegation.
He said that during the visit, at an official reception in the Great Hall, Khaleda Zia introduced her son Tarique to Chinese leaders, saying, “My son.” According to Fakhrul, the Chinese prime minister responded by describing him as “the flag of your father.”
“Today, he has raised that flag,” Fakhrul said, referring to Tarique. “That flag is the flag of independence, sovereignty, and democracy.”
