BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said if the national election delays, the country will go backward, judiciary will become fragile and investment will not come.
“As a result, there will be stagnation in trade and social security will be disrupted,” he told a public meeting organized by UK BNP President MA Malik at a community center in Pathantula area in the city.
After the meeting, a doa mahfil was held seeking recovery of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and the good health and longevity of acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
"We are fighting for the people's voting rights and establishing democracy. We have been freed from fascism, but the fight to restore democracy is still going on. We have started this struggle anew by keeping young leader Tarique Rahman in front,” said Fakhrul.
BNP Standing Committee members Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku, Mirza Abbas and Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain also spoke.
Abbas said a group of people are conspiring to postpone the elections and want to stay in power without elections.
“We have been agitating for democracy, agitating for voting rights. As a result of 17 years of agitation, the government has fallen. Hasina is gone. But Hasina’s cronies have not left the country yet. They are still conspiring. Sheikh Hasina’s men are still present at various levels of the administration. Right from the secretariat to the union, they do not want a fair election to be held in Bangladesh,” he said.
Tuku said Awami League damaged the spirit of the Liberation War by claiming ownership of 1971, similarly, another party is trying to destroy the unity of the students and the public by claiming ownership of 2024.
“We do not want disunity to be created. You should be aware that BNP is working on this issue,” he said.
UK BNP President and BNP Chairperson’s adviser MA Malik chaired the event while BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Tahsina Rushdir Luna, Dr. Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Dr. Sakhawat Hasan Jiban, Organizing Secretary GK Ghaus, Assistant Organizing Secretaries Kalim Uddin Milon and Miftah Siddiqui, International Affairs Secretary Abdus Salam, Central Members Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Abul Kaher Chowdhury Shamim and Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, Sylhet District BNP President Qaiyum Chowdhury and Metropolitan BNP Acting President Rezaul Hasan Koyes Lodi, among others, also spoke.
UNB adds: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday expressed the hope that the interim government will arrange the national election by February next year saying that only through elections can the country return to the right track.
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after offering prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) in Sylhet in the morning along with central party leaders.
The July uprising has shown a new path to the nation and all must work together to make the dream a reality, Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader claimed that around 60 lakh leaders and activists of the party are facing false cases and many have lost their lives over the years.
Earlier, Fakhrul and other central BNP leaders reached Sylhet Osmani International Airport at 9:25am by flight.
District BNP president Kaiyum Chowdhury said the BNP secretary general will attend a milad mahfil seeking early recovery of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Sunrise Community Centre in Sylhet’s Pathantula area later in the day.
Besides, another event will be held at Hotel Star Pacific in Dargah Gate area where family members of those killed during the July-August movement in Sylhet will be honoured. Mirza Fakhrul will attend the programme as the chief guest.
Later at a doa mahfil-cum-discussion organized by Sylhet City Unit BNP, Fakhrul called upon party leaders and activists to begin preparations for the next election by earning people’s trust and refraining from wrongdoings.
“It is now your (BNP leaders and activists') responsibility to prepare for the elections without quarrelling or engaging in internal disputes,” he said.
Fakhrul said, “What does that preparation mean? It means creating love for BNP among people. We must create a situation where people feel compelled to support the BNP and believe there is no alternative.”
Sylhet City Unit BNP organised the event to pray for the recovery and well-being of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and for the good health and long life of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Fakhrul recalled that BNP leaders and activists have made immense sacrifices, endured many hardships and faced torture and oppression over the last 16 years. “But we have a dream — the dream of building a new Bangladesh, free from injustice and oppression,” he said.
The BNP leader urged party rank and file to behave responsibly so that no one can accuse them of wrongdoing such as taking over businesses or occupying land, or engaging in extortion.
He also called for unity within the party and urged his party colleagues to move forward by following the path shown by its founder Ziaur Rahman and Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “Our victory is certain.”
Fakhrul thanked Chief Adviser Professor Mohammad Yunus for deciding to hold the national election in mid-February next year during a meeting with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London.
