‘No outcome by creating pressure on BNP’
Staff Reporter :
There will be no outcome by creating mountain pressure on the BNP, the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday.
“BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has given a slogan – “Bangladesh First.” What does that mean? Raising this question, Mirza Fakhrul said, “It means we do not bow our heads to anyone. We don’t look towards any other country for direction.”
He said, “Let me make it very clear – no matter who tries what today, no matter how much pressure is created to corner us, it won’t work. The people of this country have fought, and they know how to fight. They fought to overthrow autocracy. They fought to achieve independence and to free the country.”
Mirza Fakhrul made these remarks while inaugurating the graffiti art event organized by the Jubo Dal (BNP’s youth wing) at Shahbagh Square in front of the National Museum, as part of a month-long program commemorating the July Uprising.
Fakhrul said, “Today, my heart is filled with sorrow after reading the newspapers. Police have arrested five coordinators. They are forcefully extracting 5 million taka from the house of a former Member of Parliament. Is this what we wanted? Is this what the people of this country wanted? These individuals are our future, our beloved fellow warriors.”
He further said, “All of Bangladesh is looking toward the youth – the ones who have challenged the current state of the country and helped remove autocracy. They must build the country; they must shape it. And a beautiful Bangladesh must be created with them.”
“Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia was kept in a dark room – no one talks about that anymore,” he said, urging journalists to speak up about this matter. “This remarkable woman made the ultimate sacrifice for the establishment of democracy in Bangladesh.”
He added, “It is unfortunate that we are still debating such matters, which can only push Bangladesh backward.”
Addressing the youth, Fakhrul said, “Understand public perception. That is the key principle of politics. What are the people thinking? Have you ever gone and asked them? If you truly want to change Bangladesh, you must ask them what they want.”
“To those currently talking about reforms every moment and trying to say things indirectly through political language – it’s not true that we are rejecting reforms. We are constantly cooperating with reform initiatives.”
Marking the passage of one year, Fakhrul pointed out, “It’s been a year, and we still haven’t seen proper judicial proceedings against Sheikh Hasina. The trial process against those murderers – who committed killings openly – has yet to begin in full swing.”
Fakhrul concluded by saying, “To build a new Bangladesh, the public is looking at Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and all members of BNP. People want to see a party that is good – a party of good people. Isn’t that right? If that’s not the case, then are we really doing the right work? We are not.”