No revolution can succeed sans a strong party: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said no revolution can succeed without a strong and well-organised organisation behind it, report agencies.

"If there is no revolutionary organisation, a revolution cannot happen. In my personal view, a revolution succeeds only when there is a powerful organisation behind it," he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a memorial meeting for Comrade Badruddin Umar at Bangla Academy's Sahityabisharad Auditorium in the capital.

He said those who want to change society and improve the lives of ordinary people must build a strong and effective organisation and reach out to the people.

Fakhrul said the absence of revolutionary organisations is one of the main reasons behind the growing frustration in today's society.

Referring to the late Badruddin Umar, he said the younger generation should learn from a leader like him who remained firm in his ideology and never compromised his values.

"He used to say that to bring a revolution, one must go directly to the people," Fakhrul noted.

He said Badruddin Umar has always commanded great respect and honour and remained true to his ideals.

"For those of us involved in politics today, he makes us feel small in comparison-because he never compromised on his principles," the BNP leader said.

Speaking at the programme, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said Badruddin Umar proved that a brilliant student can also be involved in politics-something many didn't believe before.

"With his passing, we have lost a great deal. He had a remarkable understanding of mass uprisings. My deepest respects to him," he observed.

Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain has warned that no political party can impose its own agenda on the people, amid growing debate over demands for a proportional representation (PR) electoral system in Bangladesh.

He made these remarks while speaking at a discussion at the central committee conference-25 of the Bangladesh Pharmaceuticals Representatives Association (PhaReA) at the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) auditorium in the capital on Friday.

The BNP leader said attempts to force such a system could push push the country into an anarchic situation.

"You want to push the country into an anarchic situation… What is the purpose? To create chaos within the country? But remember, this is not the Bangladesh of old. You can't create anarchy even if you want to," he said.