Voicing concern that efforts are being made to view the country from a religious perspective, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday expressed the hope that people will once again prove through their verdict in the next election that Bangladesh is a non-communal state.
“It is unfortunate that in today’s Bangladesh — the country we wanted to build as a non-communal nation- various attempts are being made to see it from a religious angle,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while exchanging views with leaders of the Bangladesh Christian Forum at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Fakhrul said his party has always raised its voice against such divisive efforts. “We are very hopeful that people will again give their verdict in the next election that they are truly non-communal and believe in Bangladeshi nationalism.”
After 15 years of misrule, the BNP leader said, a new opportunity has emerged to rebuild Bangladesh for which thousands of people sacrificed their lives and took part in the Liberation War. Everyone should always remember that Bangladesh became independent through the Liberation War in 1971, he said.
The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh fought for independence to have a complete and distinct national identity.
Fakhrul expressed frustration that some quarters are now trying to erase that identity achieved through the Liberation War by bringing forward new ideas and narratives. “Such attempts are not good for Bangladesh. We believe we all want Bangladesh to be known as a non-communal nation,” he said.
Fakhrul said BNP’s programmes and policies aim to build a ‘rainbow nation’ where people of all faiths can live together in peace and harmony.
About the ongoing debate over the proportional representation (PR) system, Fakhrul said those who are eager for an early election should not get distracted by this issue.
He said the next parliament should decide whether future elections will be held under the PR system or not. “If it is suddenly introduced now, people will not even understand what it means,” he added.
