BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that Bangladesh must move away from “mob violence” if democracy is to be restored in the country.
He made the remarks on Wednesday (19 November) at the launch of the book “BNP in the Uprising of ’24” and a documentary screening held at a hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan.
Mirza Fakhrul said, “At a time when the International Crimes Tribunal is delivering verdicts against the fascist Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity, mobocracy or violence is being created on the other side. I do not know what this indicates. But I feel a particular group is trying to divert public attention to diminish the significance of the verdict. Therefore, I urge political parties to look into this carefully.”
Calling for a return to democratic governance, he said, “If we do not want Bangladesh to become a failed state, we must return to the path of democracy. Democratic institutions must be rebuilt. For this, BNP and all pro-democracy forces must unite.”
Regarding political reforms, Fakhrul said, “If someone individually demands reforms today, it is nothing but narrow-mindedness. BNP has long been talking about reforms.”
The BNP secretary general added, “We are in a transitional period. There is uncertainty in the air. Election dates have been announced but schedules are yet to come. We hope they will. But elections are not the end. Through elections we must return to democracy and rebuild a democratic culture — this is what we lack the most.”
Mirza Fakhrul stressed that an independent and strong judiciary, parliament, media, and administration are essential for building a sustainable state.
The event was presided over by BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan. Other speakers included Standing Committee member Selima Rahman, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Zia Parishad leader Professor BM Nagib Hossain, BNP Publicity Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna, NPP Chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad, and book editor Babul Talukder.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s adviser Mahdi Amin and leaders and activists from different levels of the party were also present.