Sylhet: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today asserted that people's democratic rights will be established through national elections. He made this statement while speaking to reporters after paying respects at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Fakhrul also visited the shrine of Hazrat Shahparan (RA) upon reaching Sylhet in the morning. The visit was part of a prayer meeting organized to seek eternal peace for the departed soul of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and to pray for the good health and long life of the party's Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Fakhrul took the opportunity to highlight the alleged atrocities faced by BNP under the Awami League regime. He stated, "We have struggled against the fascist Awami League for 15 long years," noting that approximately 6 million BNP leaders and activists have been implicated in false cases during this period. Furthermore, he claimed that several thousand BNP members have been killed, and around 1,700 leaders and activists have been victims of enforced disappearances, including the brave Sylhet leader M. Elias Ali.
Upon Fakhrul's arrival at the Sylhet airport, a warm welcome was extended by party leaders and activists. Present at the event were BNP Chairperson's Advisor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Organizing Secretary GK Gaus, Assistant Organizing Secretary Miftah Siddiqui, and other central and local BNP leaders.
Following the shrine visits, BNP leaders attended a prayer gathering at the Sunrise Community Center in Pathantula at 11:30 am. They are also scheduled to participate in a special commemoration and honoring ceremony later this afternoon at the Star Pacific Hotel at the city's Dargah Gate. The event aims to commemorate the martyrs of the July Uprising and pay tribute to their families.