A party trying to take bureaucracy under control: Fakhrul
Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday accused the government of trying to bring the bureaucracy under the influence of a single party as the national election approaches, and urged authorities to maintain strict neutrality.
“Attempts are underway to place the bureaucracy under the control of a specific party.
We (BNP) will never tolerate such moves. During the election, the bureaucracy, the government and the Election Commission must remain entirely neutral,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, Mirza Fakhrul warned that the Election Commission should resist pressure and must not yield to any political force.
“We repeat: the current government must act completely neutrally. If it does not, we will not accept the outcome – and neither will the people of this country,” he added.
He insisted the national election should take place within the February 2026 window set by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at their June meeting in London. “If not, there will be no election,” Fakhrul warned.
Mirza Fakhrul also criticised the NCP for threatening not to contest the election unless it is allocated the Shapla (Water Lily) symbol and for demanding that the Election Commission remove other national symbols – including the Sheaf of Paddy – from the symbol list if their demand is not met.
“Brother, we have not stopped you from getting any symbol. Which symbol you receive will be decided by the Election Commission. We never said you could not be given that symbol. So why this unnecessary tug of war over BNP’s Sheaf of Paddy?” he asked.
He suggested the real reason the Sheaf of Paddy is being targeted is obvious: it is an irresistibly popular symbol.
“Across the villages the slogan is the same: ‘In Bangladesh, the BNP’s Sheaf of Paddy is unstoppable.’
That is why it must be curbed – because if the Sheaf of Paddy endures, the enemies of Bangladesh will see their conspiracies fail and will be defeated.”
The programme, organised by Jihad Smriti Parishad, was held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in memory of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Nazir Uddin Ahmed Jihad, who was shot dead in Dhaka on October 10, 1990 during the anti-Ershad movement.
Earlier on Friday morning BNP leaders, including Aman Ullah Aman, paid floral tributes at the Shaheed Jehad memorial at Jehad Square to mark his 35th death anniversary.
Mirza Fakhrul scoffed at critics questioning BNP’s commitment to reform, saying BNP has spearheaded necessary reforms in Bangladesh.
He praised Ziaur Rahman’s nation-building legacy and said their overseas leader Tarique Rahman – though thousands of miles away – continues to inspire people and urge them to demand their rights.
“We are on the road to reclaiming those rights, but many are obstructing our path and spreading rumours.
Let it be clear: we brought reform before and we will bring it again. Reform is continuous and will go on. There is no point in smearing BNP with baseless propaganda,” he said.
Recalling BNP’s long struggle and sacrifices against autocratic rule – first against Ershad in the 1990s and then against Sheikh Hasina over the past 15 years – Fakhrul said the party fought to restore democracy.
He claimed that Sheikh Hasina did not leave for Delhi voluntarily but was compelled to do so because BNP’s years of struggle created the conditions for it.
“If anyone questions us, I will say loudly and clearly: we brought democracy, we brought reform. We will establish democracy ourselves, and if needed I will defend it with my own blood,” he declared.
Fakhrul emphasised that democracy is not created by a few days of theatrics; it requires experience, sacrifice and sustained engagement with the people.
“BNP is the party that reaches the people. This party has a genuine connection with ordinary citizens,” he said.
He argued that last year’s mass uprising opened a chance to restore democratic rule by removing Hasina, and insisted that the only path back to democracy is a free, fair and impartial election.
“There is no alternative. Democracy cannot be produced by a handful of people drafting laws among themselves,” he said.