'Invisible force' running the country: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said it is not the Awami League that is running the country, but rather an "invisible force" exerting influence behind the scenes. 

"Today, we have become exiles in our own country. We are being held at the airport for hours even when trying to go abroad for treatment," he said while addressing a rally held in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka on Saturday (11 May).

Fakhrul said the whole country has been kept under siege. There is no job without Awami League, even after passing BCS exams. 

"Today, DNA tests are done for jobs, to find whether the applicant does BNP politics," he added.

The rally demanded the release of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the withdrawal of cases against Tarique Rahman and the release of political prisoners. 

Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia is a victimised leader, she is a strong defender of democracy. "Having devoted her life to the nation and its people, she's now unjustly imprisoned by a government seeking revenge." 

The BNP leader said despite widespread calls for Khaleda's release due to her declining health, bail has been denied. "It is because if she is free, the people will break all the chains and dismantle all the injustice."

He further said thousands of BNP activists have been detained as courts are being used for the ruling party to stay in power. 

"Democratic movement cannot be stopped by injustice and oppression. We fought and made this country free when we were young. But today that freedom is lost. Since 2008, people have not been able to vote. Rights have been revoked. The government wants to establish Baksal in a different way again" said Fakhrul.

He said it is regrettable that Bangladesh today is deprived of democracy and freedom of speech that it fought for. 

"The country's economy is being looted, banks are being looted. Today, new laws are being made for the benefit of robbers," he added.

Regarding Awami League leader Obaidul Quader's recent remark that BNP should stop terrorism, Fakhrul said, "The AL was born out of terrorism. Maulana Bhasani was beaten and expelled from AL." 

He condemned the degradation of the electoral system, labelling recent elections as sham exercises with predetermined outcomes. 

The AL considers the country as their ancestral property. "The country's direction should be dictated by its people, not by self-serving politicians.