Those entrusted with restoring democracy not performing duties: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the individuals who were entrusted with the responsibility to restore democracy are not performing their duties properly.

"As a result, problems are emerging, creating opportunities for fascists to regain control," he said addressing a youth rally at Polo Ground in Chattogram today.

"While we are holding this youth rally, another rally is taking place in the New Market area, and another one is happening in Dhaka. They are all demanding a ban on the Awami League," Fakhrul said.

He added, "It's not just us here on the ground – 18 crore people across the country don't  want to see the AL. Since independence, the Awami League has only oppressed the people."

Fakhrul further said former president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was the first to reform the country by replacing the one-party regime with a multi-party democracy. 

"He opened up the economy, and pioneered the garment industry and manpower exports – now the two main pillars of our economy," he said.

He warned, "Keep one thing in mind – we will not allow anything that compromises the independence and sovereignty of our country. When it comes to the interests of the nation, we are uncompromising."

BNP and its affiliated bodies – Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal – gathered at the youth rally to mobilise young voters and demand political rights for the youth.

At the same event, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury warned that the people of Bangladesh must not be held hostage to fulfill the agenda of any particular group or individual. 

"The youth of this country have fought for democracy and sacrificed lives to secure the right to vote. Therefore, no one should be allowed to take the people of this country hostage to serve the interests of a select group," he said.

Kharsu added that in the past 15 years of "fascist Awami regime," hundreds of BNP leaders and activists were victims of enforced disappearance, thousands were forced to live like fugitives, and millions faced politically motivated cases.

"They fought every moment to reclaim democracy and the right to vote. They never stopped resisting until the fascist regime was ousted," he added.

Urging young people to remain alert, Khasru added, "We must ensure that the democracy we fought for is not hijacked by any group. There are signs that some are trying to do just that – but we cannot let it happen. No individual or group should be allowed to impose their ideology or agenda by excluding the people."

Commenting on political reforms, Khasru said the proposals were not a recent development. "Our chairperson laid out a 27-point reform agenda seven years ago. Later, Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman expanded it into a 31-point charter."

He said that the BNP is committed to reforming the political landscape based on these charters and called upon the youth to unite under Tarique Rahman's leadership to build a new Bangladesh.