BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that the decision on which political party should remain active or be proscribed does not rest with any individual or authority but with the people themselves.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday (13 February) after a meeting with British Acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh James Goldman at the BNP Chairperson’s Office in Gulshan, he reiterated that BNP remains committed to democratic principles.
“We are a liberal democratic party that firmly believes in democracy and its norms. It is for the people to decide which party continues or ceases to exist, and which participates in elections,” he said.
When asked about BNP’s stance on banning political parties through executive orders, Fakhrul maintained, “We have been clear—this is a matter for the people to decide. Whether I support it or not is immaterial.”
On the subject of Jamaat-e-Islami’s proposal for proportional representation in elections, he unequivocally opposed the idea.
“We are strongly against proportional representation. Such a system does not align with the political culture of Bangladesh, and we will not support it.”
He also dismissed Jamaat’s demand for holding local government elections before national polls.
“We disagree with this proposition as well. These political manoeuvres would only further destabilise the country. The sooner the national election takes place, the sooner stability can return.”
Commenting on Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s visit to the notorious Aynaghar, allegedly used for enforced disappearances, Fakhrul took a broader view.
“Abductions and killings have taken place in Bangladesh, and this is not a matter of any single party. When Al Jazeera first reported on these issues, the government outright denied them, yet such incidents have persisted.”
Welcoming the United Nations’ recent report on human rights violations in Bangladesh, he said, “We are relieved that the truth has been revealed. The problem is that when international bodies like the UN speak, people believe it—but when we, as political parties, raise these issues, many remain sceptical.”
Holding Sheikh Hasina directly responsible for these alleged crimes, he said, “Every instance of human rights violation, every institutional destruction, was carried out under her directives. The UN report has confirmed that Hasina was a fascist ruler who orchestrated repression, mass killings, and the destruction of democratic institutions.”
Fakhrul demanded Hasina’s extradition to Bangladesh, asserting that she and her accomplices must be brought to justice.
“We expect the Indian government to extradite her so that she can be held accountable for her crimes,” he declared.
On his meeting with the British Acting High Commissioner, Fakhrul stated that discussions encompassed Bangladesh’s current political landscape, government actions, international relations, and prospects for the forthcoming elections.
The meeting was also attended by BNP Organising Secretary and Chairperson’s Special Foreign Affairs Adviser Shama Obayed.
