BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “The execution of Jamaat leaders marks a disgraceful chapter in the nation’s history.” He urged all political parties to set aside divisions and join the upcoming national election together to help restore democracy in the country.

Call for Unity in Participating in the Election

The BNP secretary general called on all political parties to take part in the upcoming national election, putting aside minor differences. “If all parties contest the election together,” he said, “we can bring democracy back.”

He made this call on Saturday at an event marking the 21st anniversary of the daily Naya Diganta newspaper at the National Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Dhaka.

‘Election Will Be Held on Time in February’

Fakhrul expressed hope that the election would be held on schedule in February 2026. According to him, only a credible election can restore the country’s democratic system.

He said, “The student-led uprising in August 2024 created a new opportunity to establish a truly democratic state.”

On behalf of the BNP, he paid deep tribute to all pro-democracy activists who were martyred in the 2024 movement.

Interim Government’s Election Announcement

Fakhrul noted that the interim government has already announced that the election will be held by February next year. He added that all reform issues have been finalized through the signing of the National July Charter and consensus among political parties.

Repression and Allegations from the Past

The BNP secretary general alleged that during the Awami League’s “fascist regime,” false cases were filed against nearly six million leaders and activists, 20,000 people were killed, and 1,700 were disappeared.

He said, “Religious scholars and political leaders such as Jamaat Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami, Naya Diganta owner Mir Quasem Ali, and BNP Standing Committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury were executed in fabricated cases. This was a disgraceful chapter in the nation’s history.”

Fakhrul also alleged that journalists were heavily repressed during that time.

Importance of a Free Press

He said, “The people of this country want a democratic and independent Bangladesh where no foreign power dictates governance—only the will of the people does.”

Fakhrul reminded that after independence, during the era of BAKSAL, press freedom was completely suppressed. “After BAKSAL was established in 1975, all newspapers were shut down. I recall that many journalists lost their jobs; some were even seen selling newspapers in front of Baitul Mukarram Mosque.”

Zia’s Multiparty Politics and Reforms

Fakhrul said that after the political shift in 1975, the late President Ziaur Rahman was the first to move away from one-party rule, introduce multiparty democracy, and ensure freedom of the press.

He added, “We must not forget that the country’s major reform initiatives began during Ziaur Rahman’s time and were later advanced by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.”

Conclusion

According to the BNP secretary general, national unity among all political parties is essential to restore democracy in the country. He said, “Our goal is to establish a free, transparent, and people’s government—where citizens’ voting rights and the dignity of democracy will remain intact.”