Only an elected govt will run the country: Mirza Fakhrul

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of BNP, thanked Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus for directing the Election Commission to complete preparations for the parliamentary election by December.

He said, “We believe in liberal democracy. Power will change through elections. Only the elected government will run the country and solve the problems of the people.”

Mirza Fakhrul made these remarks on Thursday (July 10) at a discussion and award ceremony for the families of martyred journalists held at the National Press Club auditorium. The event was titled “The Role of Journalists in the July Student-People Uprising.”

The event was organized by the Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union (BFUJ) and the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ). The program was chaired by DUJ President Md. Shahidul Islam, with DUJ General Secretary Khurshid Alam serving as the host.

Mirza Fakhrul described the decision as very positive, saying, “We believe in democracy. Power should change through free, fair, and impartial elections. I hope the Election Commission will complete its work swiftly and create an environment that is acceptable to all. The people of the country have sacrificed their lives to protect voting rights, and this right must be upheld through fair elections.”

Speaking about the Election Commission, he added, “Opinions have been expressed on every issue. BNP agrees with most of them, but some fundamental differences remain. These can be resolved later through parliamentary debate.”

Responding to recent news reports about BNP reform, Mirza Fakhrul said, “BNP has always supported reform. It is unfair to say that BNP is blocking reform. We have already held a press conference on this issue.”

Regarding the tariffs imposed by the United States, he said, “The government should have sent capable representatives to negotiate with the US. It is not too late to do so.”

Expressing concern over border killings and pushbacks, the BNP Secretary General said, “Pushbacks are a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. The government must adopt a firm position. It is important to build public awareness on this issue. Water-sharing challenges must also be addressed with urgency. National unity is crucial to safeguarding democratic rights.”