Dhaka: Thanking Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus for his recent directive concerning the national election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today expressed hope that the Election Commission will swiftly complete its election preparations. “It is a very positive instruction. Now we expect that the Chief Adviser would help hold the next general election in a free, fair, and credible manner,” Fakhrul stated while addressing a program at the National Press Club.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organized jointly by the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), focusing on the role of journalists in the July Uprising and honoring martyred journalists’ families. Fakhrul handed over crests to six families of journalists who lost their lives in the uprising. The event also honored former BFUJ President Ruhul Amin Gazi posthumously, with his wife and son receiving the award on his behalf.
Fakhrul highlighted the challenges faced by BNP leaders and activists over the past 15 years, alleging that 6 million individuals confronted false charges. He claimed that 1,700 activists were victims of enforced disappearances, and around 35,000 were killed. He urged the interim government to address the issues of killings and push-ins at border areas seriously.
He credited Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman with establishing a multi-party democratic system and restoring a full democratic political culture in the country. Fakhrul refuted claims that BNP opposes reforms and asserted that the party has consistently supported democratic principles.
The event was presided over by DUJ President Md. Shahidul Islam, with General Secretary Khurshid Alam moderating. Key participants included BNP Standing Committee member Dr. A. Z. M. Zahid Hossain, Jamaat’s Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar, President of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna, and other notable figures.
Dr. A. Z. M. Zahid Hossain remarked that while the autocrat has fled, autocratic tendencies persist. Professor Mia Golam Parwar emphasized the need for unity on common issues to prevent the return of fascist autocracy. Kader Gani Chowdhury called for justice against the oppression faced by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s family over the past 15 years.