Staff Reporter:
Thakurgaon has erupted in celebration following the nomination of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the party’s candidate for the presidential election, with party leaders, activists and many local residents hailing the development as a matter of pride for the district.
Processions and sweet distribution were held at different places in the town after the ruling BNP announced his nomination on Thursday.
In Thakurgaon, the name Mirza Fakhrul now dominates conversations at tea stalls, political gatherings and on social media.
From serving as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality to becoming a central figure in national politics, Mirza Fakhrul has travelled a long political road. His nomination for the presidency has brought a fresh wave of excitement among people in his home district.
The celebrations spread from the district BNP office to villages across Thakurgaon. Many locals see the development not merely as the nomination of a politician but as the prospect of someone from their own district occupying the country’s highest constitutional office.
For many residents, it is also a moment of pride for the northern region.
Mirza Fakhrul grew up in Thakurgaon. After completing his higher education in economics at Dhaka University, he worked as a teacher at Dhaka College and government colleges in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon. He later served in senior positions in the education administration before leaving government service in 1988 to enter politics.
His career as an elected representative began with his election as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality. He subsequently played a key role in organising BNP in the district before rising through the party’s central leadership.
Mirza Fakhrul was elected an MP from Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the 2001 general election and later served as a state minister. He eventually became BNP’s acting secretary general before being appointed secretary general in 2016.
Throughout his political career, he has faced arrests, cases and political challenges while remaining involved in the party’s activities.
For residents of Thakurgaon, his nomination is therefore being viewed as the culmination of a long political journey.
Ramzan Ali, a farmer from Akcha union in Sadar upazila, said the development has brought him immense joy.
“Fakhrul is one of our own. After years of struggle and sacrifice, hearing that he is now receiving the country’s highest honour has made us very happy,” he said.
For many villagers, their reaction is driven less by political analysis than by a sense of personal connection with a man they regard as one of their own.
Young people in the district have also expressed enthusiasm, with social media filled with congratulatory messages, photographs and posts about Mirza Fakhrul.
Rifat, a student of Thakurgaon Government College, said Mirza Fakhrul’s education, knowledge and political maturity could be an inspiration for the younger generation.
“If he goes to Bangabhaban, it will be a great source of inspiration for young people like us,” he said.
Beyond politics, Mirza Fakhrul is known locally for his involvement in sports and cultural activities. He played football and cricket and is the lifelong president of the traditional Thakurgaon Town Club. He has also acted in plays and taken part in recitation and other cultural activities.
His background as a teacher has also drawn attention from members of the local teaching community.
Tapas Debnath, a senior teacher at Thakurgaon Girls’ High School, said Mirza Fakhrul’s nomination is a matter of pride for teachers.
“When a former teacher occupies the country’s highest constitutional office, it enhances the dignity of the teaching community,” he said.
Thakurgaon district BNP General Secretary Paigam Ali said Mirza Fakhrul is not only an asset to BNP but also an experienced leader who took part in the country’s political struggles for decades.
“We believe he will prove himself as a successful guardian of the country,” he said.
Even political opponents have viewed the nomination as a significant achievement for Thakurgaon.
Kafiluddin Ahmed, joint general secretary of Thakurgaon district unit of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said political differences should not prevent people from taking pride in someone from their district.
“Our political ideals may be different, but as a son of Thakurgaon, Mirza Fakhrul’s nomination for the presidency has enhanced the dignity of our entire district,” he said.
Celebrations continue across Thakurgaon with sweets being distributed at political offices and through personal initiatives by party activists.
Amid the celebrations, however, civil society representatives stressed that the presidency is a constitutional office that should stand above partisan identity.
Nazmul Islam, general secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik’s Thakurgaon district unit, said Mirza Fakhrul’s long parliamentary and political experience could help him perform the role of a balanced and judicious head of state.
Voting in the presidential election will be held on 20 August. The 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat, fielded Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmad as its candidate in the presidential election.
However, as the BNP enjoys an absolute majority in Parliament, its candidate Mirza Fakhrul is expected to become the country’s 23rd President.
