Fakhrul says next govt to face law and order, graft, economic challenges

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (13 February) said their party's next government will face major challenges in keeping law and order, fighting corruption and boosting the economy.

"The biggest challenges for the next government will be to get the economy moving, maintain law and order, control corruption, and ensure justice. These are the challenges," he said.

Fakhrul made the remarks while talking to reporters outside the international terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning from his electoral area in Thakurgaon.

He said the BNP, having won a majority of seats in the 13th parliamentary election, will form the next government under the leadership of party Chairman Tarique Rahman.

According to unofficial results, BNP won 209 out of 299 seats.

Commenting on the election results, Fakhrul described the moment as both joyous and sad.

"One part is joy, another part is sadness. Our late chairperson and national leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, could not see this unprecedented victory, which is very sad," he said.

He said that after the success of the student-led mass uprisings, achieved at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives, a transparent election was held in a festive mood.

"Personally, I am deeply impressed. If we can maintain this continuity, we can preserve the progress of democracy," the BNP leader said.

When asked about the election held without the participation of the Awami League, Fakhrul said, "The Election Commission has already taken decisions regarding the Awami League, and their activities have been suspended. Further decisions will depend on future political developments."

After arriving in Dhaka from the airport, Fakhrul went to the BNP chairman's office in Gulshan to congratulate Tarique Rahman with flowers.

Party Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salauddin Ahmed were present.