We want to further strengthen the ideals on which Bangladesh was established: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that BNP believes in liberal democracy.

He said: "We do not want to create any division. We want to further strengthen the ideals on which Bangladesh was established."

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion organized on the occasion of the 45th martyrdom anniversary of former President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) auditorium in the capital on Thursday (June 4).

The BNP Secretary General commented that there was an attempt to create exaggerated public opinion around Jamaat before the national elections.

He said that before the elections, a group had created the impression that Jamaat would get the most votes and was in a position to come to power. But the election results proved that the people have faith in BNP.

At the event titled ‘Ziaur Rahman’s Independent and Neutral Diplomacy in the Current Context’, Mirza Fakhrul said that before the elections, some intellectuals and a section of the media created an environment in which it seemed that Jamaat was emerging as the most popular political force. However, the people did not accept that campaign.

The BNP Secretary General said that the people did not make a mistake. In the end, they chose BNP. The people have taken a stand in favor of democratic and liberal political trends.

He also highlighted the political philosophy of BNP at the event, saying, ‘BNP is a liberal democratic political party, which does not believe in the politics of division, but in the politics of national unity.’

He referred to the slogan of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman ‘Bangladesh first’ and said that the message of giving utmost importance to national interests is embedded in this philosophy.

Regarding the political role of former President Ziaur Rahman, the BNP Secretary General said that he led the country during the critical times and tried to unite the divided political forces. It was his initiative that started the effort to bring different political views and forces on one platform, which later took a more consolidated form through the establishment of BNP.

He also said that Ziaur Rahman was in favor of a balanced stance in Bangladesh's foreign policy. He believed in the principle of building mutual respect and friendly relations, not hostility with any country.