Home
+
Published : 28 Apr 2025, 07:58 PM
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the problems with India are created by India itself by providing shelter to the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders.
In an interview with bdnews24.com's “Inside Out”, he said: “We always tried to maintain a neutral position because we must have good relationships with all the countries for more trade and developed nations' support for economic advancement."
Fakhrul, who has been leading BNP in grassroots politics for a long time, spoke about contemporary politics, the 13th parliamentary election, the reform process, the interim government’s role, the demand to ban the Awami League, and India-Bangladesh relations.
The programme was broadcast on the English version of bdnews24.com's Facebook page and YouTube channel on Sunday.
While speaking on regional geopolitics, the BNP leader said: “The interim administration has repeatedly asked the Indian government to send back Sheikh Hasina. That has not been done, and unfortunately, the Indian government is not having any fruitful, effective, dialogue with Bangladesh.
“So this misunderstanding, or whatever you say, is creating a bottleneck for a better relationship with India.”
Fakhrul said, “India, unfortunately, always, has played a wrong diplomatic role by supporting only one political party in the last three elections.
“You must have observed that. The last three elections were all supported by India openly. The people didn't go to vote. There was no vote, no elections. So its support to only one party did not satisfy the people and that's why the people of the country turned against India.”
The BNP leader believes the sharing of cross-border river waters also remains a problem.
“India is not taking any serious initiative to solve that problem. Also, killing of people on the border is also not being solved alongside the issues tied to trade deficiencies.”
He stressed it will be difficult to improve ties if India does not resolve the issues.
The BNP leader also shed light on the dangers of "undemocratic forces" "and" "extremism” amid the desire to build a democratic and non-discriminatory Bangladesh following the July Uprising that changed the landscape of power and politics.
He highlighted several positive steps taken by the interim government, but said the inability to control the mob attacks was a "gross failure".
Commenting on the current situation, Fakhrul said it is not possible for the interim government to resolve everything. For this, he said, necessary reforms should be made and a roadmap for early elections should be provided.
During the half-hour discussion, differences over reform and elections with long-time ally Jamaat-e-Islami and the new student party National Citizen Party (NCP), which led the uprising, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s health condition, and the return of party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to the country came up.
Fakhrul, who entered politics with trust in the left-wing, was the president of the Bangladesh Students' Union’s Dhaka University unit. The economics teacher later joined BNP politics. He rose through the ranks of the party from the grassroots to the top.
He was officially named secretary general in the BNP's sixth National Council in 2016, but he had been serving in the role since 2011.
The BNP leader, who is known as a "gentleman" in the political arena and among the public, also addressed the numerous street protests involving students, teachers, job seekers and professionals with various demands in recent months.
Fakhrul believes that the protesters could not hold demonstrations for so long because of the prevalence of "fascism". Now every day, youths are coming out on the streets alongside workers and others. Moreover, other “anti-democratic forces” are emerging due to the delay in the election.
Referring to the political crisis, he said: "Some people are trying to instigate it in different ways. Attempts are being made to create unrest in the country.
"All this can be solved if reforms are fast-tracked and elections are held after those reforms. We demand that the government immediately publish these reforms that have been agreed upon. The fact is that the government should immediately go for the elections with these reforms.
"The protesters have to understand that it is not possible for an interim government to solve everything.”
The BNP secretary general continued, "I want to tell the nation that we should not lose sight of the main thing due to political rivalry and conflict. The main thing is to return to a democratic system.
"If there is no democratic practice and culture; if we cannot make the structure democratic, then all our efforts, sacrifices, movements, and the bloodshed, everything will be in vain.
He urged all to be united. When asked how that could be achieved, he said: "It is the government's responsibility to take the initiative.
"We welcome the reform measures. I think we should go back to the democratic form of government by making public the issues of these reforms quickly and signing the charter of reforms based on proposals that have been agreed upon."
WHAT IS THE SITUATION IN BANGLADESH?
Eight months have passed since the interim government took charge after the end of Awami League's one and a half decade rule. Fakhrul was asked whether fascism has been eliminated and the current political landscape.
"What we have been saying all along is that the fascist government that was in power has been overthrown through a student-led mass uprising. They have done a tremendous damage to Bangladesh's politics and economy.
"All democratic institutions have been destroyed. The Election Commission, the election system, the law and order, the judicial system, the economic system, health, education have all been completely collapsed and reduced to rubble. We're trying to get out of here from the beginning."
A decade and a half of “fascist rule” has ended. But the BNP leader believes its remnants remain in Bangladesh.
He said, "A large part of the bureaucracy that the previous government used to run the dictatorship and fascism, they still are there who have directly supported the fascists."
"Not only in the Secretariat, but also the institutions outside, the main agencies of the government, the high-ups of these organisations have not changed yet.”
‘BANGLADESH NOW NEEDS AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT’
Asked about his meeting with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on the election, Fakhrul said: “We have talked to them three times and things are moving quite well. I believe we can sign a charter of reforms based on the minimum consensus, which can be reached, and then can go for the election as soon as possible.
“The country now needs an elected government, which will really empower its economic structure, as well as the political structures.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman announced a 31-point reform programme to mend the state structure in 2023. The interim government is also working on reforms in multiple sectors.
The BNP has raised issues with some of the proposals. There are also important differences in the views of Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and NCP. So what's the future of the consensus?
In response, Fakhrul said: “The government has to give a very clear idea about the election and its timeframe, what we have been asking for. Some people are trying to interpret it in a different way that we are just asking for elections.
“No, we are asking for a situation where the elected government can take over and the people can raise their voice in the parliament.
"In 2016, we have given Vision 2030. Then in 2023, we gave a 31 point charter of reform to repair the state structure. It is the BNP who gave them."
He continued, "The interim government has established some reform commissions based on public opinion. Their reports have been submitted. Political parties have also expressed their views. we are engaged with them already."
On differences with Jamaat and NCP over reforms, Fakhrul said: “The political parties will define their different opinions, and that's democracy basically. I believe the consensus, in most of the issues, can be achieved. And by achieving the consensus, we can sign a charter of reform.”
BNP’S STANCE ON BANNING THE AWAMI LEAGUE
Hasina and former Awami League ministers and MPs, along with other party leaders, are facing trial for attempting to violently suppress the student-led mass uprising. In light of this, there has been a demand to ban the Awami League.
When Fakhrul was asked about BNP's stance on banning the party, he said: "We have said this many times that banning a political party by executive order will not solve the problem. The ban should come from the people as a whole.
“The judiciary can take responsibility if there is a violation of the law.”
‘JUDICIAL PROCESS MUST NOT DELAY ELECTIONS’
Several political parties have demanded that Awami League leaders and those involved with the past regime be brought to justice before the next general election.
When asked about the issue, the BNP secretary general said: “We want justice. We want trials for those who committed ‘genocide’, and we want it to happen as soon as possible.”
He urged the government to increase the number of tribunals handling such cases to ensure faster proceedings.
Fakhrul, however, noted the “sluggish” nature of the country’s judicial activities. “It can take seven, eight, even up to twelve years to resolve a single case.”
“Do you wait 10, seven, or even five years to hold elections? You can’t. Both the judicial process and elections must continue simultaneously,” he said.
When asked about the BNP’s strategy for the upcoming election and whether the party plans to form alliances, Fakhrul referred to the party’s earlier declaration.
“We’ve made our position clear. In our 31-point charter of reforms, we’ve said that after the election, we intend to form a national government together with the parties that have stood against this ‘fascist’ regime,” he said.
He added that the country’s political landscape would improve significantly if all democratic parties were brought together under one inclusive government.”
HOW IS KHALEDA IN LONDON, WHEN TARIQUE IS COMING BACK?
Khaleda went to London in January for treatment. She was expected to return in April. How's her physical condition?
Asked about her health, Fakhrul said Khaleda's condition is quite stable.
"As far as we know, she will be back soon."
BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique’s return to the country has also been a matter of major discussion following his reprieve in multiple cases. The party has said once the election process begins, he will make plans to return. Fakhrul said, “There are still some cases pending, but he will be back when they are over."
He also praised Tarique for leading the party during the crisis.
STUDENT POLITICS
Fakhrul was asked about the recent clashes between the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal — particularly those that occurred at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET).
As a politician shaped by student activism, how did he view the situation?
In response, Fakhrul said: "These issues can be resolved through dialogue, negotiation, and by fostering better relations among the organisations involved.”
“If they sit together, they can work things out, and the government should take the initiative to help resolve these issues,” he added.
When asked about the repeated calls to ban political student organisations from campuses, the politician firmly disagreed, arguing that such measures would only address the symptom, not the root cause.
He likened it to trying to cure a headache by cutting off one’s head.
The BNP leader emphasised that student politics in Bangladesh — and across the subcontinent — has played a critical role for more than a century.
According to him, the real problem lies not within student politics itself, but in the system that has allowed these issues to fester.
Fakhrul said: "Over the past 15 years, the ‘fascist’ government has destroyed educational institutions and imposed its rule. They established their own student wing, the Chhatra League, and prevented any other organisations from operating.
“If there were fair and healthy student politics in the universities, it would foster the emergence of strong leadership.”
“This happened in the past when we were students; student politics was active, and leaders emerged from it.
He added that many of our key political leaders, who have shaped the country, came from active student politics.
The BNP leader insisted that the focus should not be on banning student politics, but on reforming the environment in which it exists. “It’s not student politics that’s to blame — it’s the nature of governance and the government's attitude.
“The real question is: how do you manage it? You need to create an environment that fosters healthy student engagement," he said. “Even in Western countries, universities hold student elections. Cabinets and unions are elected, and they manage extracurricular activities.
“That’s how those systems nurture future leaders.”
"What’s needed is an environment for constructive activities where students can learn the values of good politics, debate, and engage meaningfully."
