You opposed the Liberation War, please don’t oppose the election: Fakhrul indicating Jamaat

Without directly naming Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged political groups not to oppose the upcoming national election.

"Once, the demand of the people was Pakistan — you opposed that. In 1971, you opposed our Liberation War. Please don't oppose the election that the people want now. The people of this country never forgive traitors. Step away from that path. Participate in the election and let people's power be established through it," he said at a discussion held at the National Press Club marking the 53rd founding anniversary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) today (31 October).

The BNP leader alleged that there are significant differences between the July Charter signed on 17 October and the version presented to the chief adviser of the interim government. "The notes of dissent we submitted were not included. The trust and confidence we placed in the process have been betrayed. The people have been deceived, which we did not expect from them," he said.

Calling BNP a party of reform, Fakhrul said, "BNP was born out of reform. It brought the country from a one-party system to a multi-party democracy. Newspapers that were banned were reopened, and people's basic rights were restored — all under the leadership of martyr president Ziaur Rahman. He initiated both political and economic reforms."

He added that Khaleda Zia later transformed the system from a presidential to a parliamentary form of government and accepted the caretaker government system, even though it was initially opposed.

"Those who say BNP does not want reform are misleading the nation. We want reform, we have implemented reform, and we have signed the Charter with full commitment. Any betrayal or confusion has come from those in the Consensus Commission, not from us," he stated.

Reaffirming BNP's demand for an election by February, Fakhrul said, "As per the chief adviser's announcement, we want elections within February. A vested group is trying to derail or delay the polls and confuse the public. But we have clearly said that there is no scope to hold a referendum before the election. The referendum can only be held on election day — and we have made that position very clear."