‘People to decide on political parties, polls’
Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated on Wednesday that the citizens of Bangladesh hold the authority to determine who can participate in elections and engage in politics.
Addressing a program in Feni’s Fulgazi upazila, he clarified that no political party, including the BNP, has the right to impose such decisions.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding,” Fakhrul remarked during the event organized to distribute education materials and corrugated iron sheets among flood-affected families in Sreepur.
“An adviser recently commented that BNP allowed the Awami League to do politics. This is incorrect, and we have clearly stated our position. We have never obstructed any party from joining elections.”
In an exclusive interview with the Indian newspaper The Hindu recently, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus addressed the question whether the Awami League would be allowed to participate in the polls. He stated, “We didn’t want to make decisions on any political party.
The BNP has already taken that stance, declaring that all political parties must contest the elections. They have effectively delivered their verdict, and we cannot go against the opinion of a major party in the country.”
Fakhrul emphasised that individuals and groups responsible for harming the nation, including Sheikh Hasina, must face justice. “Those who killed people, laundered money, and destroyed the country’s assets will have to be held accountable,” he added.
Regarding the role of the interim government, Fakhrul noted its contributions to restoring peace and order.
“They have already achieved significant progress. Can Awami League members still carry out acts of violence? The interim government deserves time to complete its tasks,” he said. Fakhrul also called for expediting the process to hold elections and establish a people’s government.
He urged BNP activists to remain united, claiming that “Awami League bandits” have fled the country and that the nation must be cleansed of the remnants of AL’s regime.
Fakhrul also addressed the ongoing efforts to send BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced medical treatment.
Prominent BNP leaders, including Standing Committee Member Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny, Chairperson’s Adviser Prof. Joynal Abedin, former lawmaker Rehana Akter Ranu, and Chattogram Divisional Organising Secretary Mahbube Rahman Shamim, were present at the event.
