‘Conspiracies’ are under way to hinder democratic transition, Fakhrul says

A few youths now think whatever they say, the people of this country must follow, Mirza Abbas says

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said conspiracies are under way to destabilise the country and obstruct its path towards democratic transition.

Speaking at a discussion marking the first anniversary of the July Uprising in Dhaka on Monday, he said: “There is a conspiracy to create unrest in the country so that democracy cannot flourish.”

“But we firmly believe that as long as Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal are active, no force can succeed in destroying democracy.”

The discussion titled “Anti-fascist movement and my untold words” was organised by the BNP’s youth front, Jubo Dal.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the event virtually from London.

At the event, Fakhrul presented financial assistance to the family members of Jubo Dal activists killed during the July Uprising.

He said, “We are hopeful. The way our leader Tarique Rahman is guiding us, his messages on politics and the economy, the dream he is presenting before the nation, remind me of Martin Luther King Jr’s historic speech ‘I Have a Dream’.

“We will move forward with that dream.”

Referring to the initiatives of late president Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, he said the party laid the foundation of democratic institutions and revived the country’s economy.

“Whenever the country is in ruins, whenever the economy collapses, it is the BNP that takes responsibility for rebuilding the nation,” Fakhrul said.

“And from what we are seeing now, it appears BNP may once again have to shoulder that responsibility and take on the challenges.”

At the discussion, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas says he has heard an Army officer is allegedly conspiring from within the country to put the government in trouble or to trigger some kind of incident.

“We understand all these conspiracies. These are scripted dramas being staged to delay the election or prevent it altogether.

“But remember one thing, the people of the country have been fighting for their voting rights for 17 years. We will forcefully reclaim that right from this government. No matter how many conspiracies go on behind, within, or outside the government, BNP does not see any of them as invincible.”

He added, “Under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, we have carried out a 17-year-long movement, and if necessary, we will continue for another 17 years. But we will not allow any authoritarian regime to take hold.

“We speak of autocracy because a few youths now think whatever they say, the people of this country must follow. It feels like we are servants of their forefathers.

“They don’t even consider the people as citizens, nor do they see the country’s leaders as actual leaders. They think only they are the leaders, because they’ve tasted power and now refuse to let it go.”