Fakhrul slams AL over democracy claims

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said that Awami League (AL) and democracy have never been compatible, claiming that the party has historically failed to uphold democratic values.

“Awami League and democracy can never go together. They did not go together in the past, not after the party’s birth, and certainly not during the recent fascist period. It is a DNA problem, and it will not change,” he said.

He made the remarks while addressing a discussion marking the Black Day of Newspapers at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. The programme was organised by the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).

Fakhrul also stated, “BNP is not a revolutionary party. It is a liberal democratic party that accommodates everyone,” during his speech.

The BNP leader expressed concern over what he described as coordinated attempts by various groups to destabilise society through misinformation, declining law and order, and online propaganda.

“There is a conscious effort to push society in a different direction through misinformation and propaganda on social media. We must collectively resist and defeat these efforts,” he said.

He further called for efforts to reopen media outlets that have ceased operations, adding that the current government is working to ensure freedom of the press.

Fakhrul also reflected on divisions within political and media advocacy groups, saying, “Unfortunately, those of us who have struggled and sacrificed for democracy and freedom of the press have not always been able to remain united.”

Raising concerns about the welfare of journalists, he criticised media ownership practices, alleging unfair treatment and insecurity in the profession.

He said many journalists remain unemployed and noted challenges in creating sufficient job opportunities for media professionals.

“There are still many journalist brothers who remain unemployed. We have not yet been able to create sufficient employment opportunities for them,” he said.

He proposed the creation of new media platforms through collective initiatives as a way to generate employment for journalists.

Fakhrul also said the current government came to power after a prolonged struggle, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has repeatedly emphasised the importance of ensuring media freedom.

He further stated that BNP remains one of the safest political platforms for journalists and professionals, saying, “BNP is a political party that accepts opposing views and that is what we have always practised,” he said.