Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were released on bail on Thursday after languishing over three months in jail on charges related to vandalising the residence of the Chief Justice.
Upon their release from Keraniganj central jail, BNP leaders and supporters, alongside ordinary citizens, eagerly awaited their arrival.
Reiterating their commitments, the duo stated that the ongoing struggle for democratic rights and the people’s right to vote will continue until victory is achieved.
BNP boycotted the 12th parliamentary election on January 7 as the government did not hold the poll under a caretaker government for ensuring neutrality.
The absence of BNP facilitated an easier path for Awami League to secure the overwhelming victory as the contest was mainly held between the party leaders.
However, the West, especially the US, said that the election was not fair as it did not reflect the voting rights of the people to choose their representatives and urged the government to conduct an independent investigation into the irregularities and violence.
Addressing the leaders and workers, Mirza Fakhrul assured that their movement for restoring “voting rights” would persist, emphasising that their movement had not suffered any setbacks.
“The government has been damaged from the one-sided election. BNP has remained unharmed,” he said.
“Country’s people have always fought for democracy, voting rights, and the rights for meals. They have struggled and fought for these rights. By the grace of Allah, they will emerge victorious in this struggle,” he said.
After being released, Amir Khasru said, “They (Awami League) have captured state power through state machinery. The people of Bangladesh have rejected them. They have been morally defeated in the election.”
He added, “The struggle for democracy will continue unabated. As long as democracy does not return to the country and a government elected by the people’s vote does not come to power, this struggle will continue.”
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir faced 11 cases related to clashes and violence against him since October 28 last year.
