Staff Reporter :
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, expressed his optimism that India’s newly elected government would respect the hopes and expectations of the Bangladeshi people.
This statement was made during a discussion meeting organized by the Nationalist Farmers’ Party at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Monday, commemorating the 43rd death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Addressing the audience, Alamgir reflected on the recent electoral victory of Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a third term. “We have only one expectation from India’s new government,” he stated. “Just as the people of India can elect their representatives, just as their Election Commission can still work independently, and just as their judiciary can function, we want to establish democracy in our country in the same way. Our expectation is that the new Indian government will respect the expectations of the people of Bangladesh and build its relationship with Bangladesh accordingly.”
Alamgir’s speech sharply criticized the current Bangladeshi government, led by the Awami League, accusing it of eroding democratic freedoms and establishing a fascist regime. “The right to vote has been taken away. No one has the freedom to speak. A complete fascism has been established in the country,” he declared. “Now our only goal is to overthrow this terrible monstrous government through movement and establish a government of the people.”
Highlighting the numerous challenges facing the nation, both political and economic, Alamgir emphasized the dire situation. He pointed out that the country is in a precarious state not just politically and economically, but also geographically.
In a poignant anecdote, Alamgir recounted a conversation with a former political ally who has distanced himself from politics. “Yesterday I went to a social event. There I met an old friend who is now away from politics. I asked him, why are you not doing politics? He said, what politics should I do? I said, do Awami League politics. He replied, is the Awami League still the Awami League? Now it’s Aziz and Benazir’s Awami League. See, this is the realization of an Awami League leader, and this is the reality. Today’s Awami League is not the same Awami League.”
Turning to the country’s fiscal policies, Alamgir criticized the national budget, labeling it as a tool for government looting. “Much has been said about the budget. The entire budget is about their looting,” he claimed.
Alamgir further accused the government of insatiable greed, stating, “The hunger of this government is endless. They are devouring everything. Government people are doing whatever they please. There is a terrible situation in the country. In the past 15 years, the Awami League has destroyed all the achievements of the country’s 53 years. There is no justice anywhere; if you want to do business, you have to pay extortion to government people. They want to systematically turn the country into a failed state. The government has created such development that people are now leaving Dhaka city and moving to villages.”