BNP seeks to seize opportunity to strengthen democracy: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said following the July Uprising, BNP seeks to seize the opportunity for change to establish a permanent democratic state system in the country, report agencies.
He said, "After emerging from the horrific, oppressive rule of the last 15 to 16 years, our sons, through great sacrifice and by laying down their lives, have brought about a change. We want to capitalize on this change and use this opportunity to make a democratic state system permanent in the country. This will establish the rights of all citizens."
Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the capital's Kakrail area on Saturday.
The Caretaker Welfare Council of the Mosque-based Children and Mass Education Programme under the Islamic Foundation organised the event.
Reiterating his party's core values, Mirza Fakhrul said, "We are a liberal democratic party. We believe that where democracy prevails, the rights of people of all classes, religions, and ethnicities can be guaranteed. Without democracy, no one's rights can be protected."
The senior BNP leader said, "For 15-16 years, we have seen how fascist Hasina snatched the rights of every person in the country, including the right to vote. This fascist regime even snatched the right to practice religion. The contents of the Friday sermons (khutbah) were sent out in writing."
Emphasizing that the BNP upholds Islamic values, he said, "Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman incorporated 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem' into the Constitution. He also introduced the principle of 'Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah' as a fundamental principle of the Constitution-one to which the BNP remains firmly committed."
Meanwhile, BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has called on political groups not to claim 'exclusive ownership'of last year's student-led mass uprising, warning that attempts to 'commercialise its spirit'would be met with public rejection.
Speaking at a rally organised by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital on Saturday, the BNP Standing Committee member said the events of July 2024 were the product of a long struggle, not merely the result of a 36-day movement.