Our struggle will continue until democracy fully restored: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (1 September) said their party will continue its struggle until democracy is fully restored in Bangladesh.

Speaking at a doa and milad mahfil, he also claimed that there is a deliberate plot to discredit the BNP by falsely linking it to negative activities.

"We want to make it clear that we have been fighting for democracy for the past 16 years, and our struggle will of course continue until democracy is fully restored," the BNP leader said at the event marking 46th founding anniversary of the party.

He accused the fascist Awami League (AL) government of making evil attempts to weaken the BNP by resorting to repression and implicating the party leaders and activists in false cases.

"The plots against us continue. There are ongoing efforts to tarnish the BNP's reputation by linking the party to various negative activities."

He said many plots were hatched in the past to eliminate Zia's party, but all have failed because the BNP is like a river with powerful currents, remains resilient and enduring.

The BNP leader hoped that the interim government would clean up the garbage created by the AL. "It'll take time to remove the mess."

He said AL destroyed the election system, judiciary, administration and law enforcement agencies.

"So, these institutions must be reformed to ensure a free and fair election. We trust that the government will facilitate the people's desired election, leading to the formation of a parliament and government elected by the people's votes, after swiftly implementing these necessary reforms," Fakhrul said.

He said the removal of Sheikh Hasina's autocratic regime has created a new scope to rebuild the country. "Let us unite to grab this chance and work towards building a new and modern Bangladesh."

The doa mahfil was held in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office in the afternoon, seeking divine blessings for those affected by the flooding, for those who were killed and injured in the recent student-led mass movement, and for the swift recovery of Khaleda Zia, the widow of Ziaur Rahman.

The BNP arranged the programme in observance of the party's 46th founding anniversary.

Fakhrul said their party had been on the streets over the last 16 years primarily aimed at restoring democracy and reintroducing a caretaker government system to ensure the people's voting rights and credible elections.

He said the objectives of their movement also include freeing the country from injustice and misrule and strengthening the economy.