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Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that attempts were being made to place bureaucracy under the control of a particular party ahead of the national elections.

In another development, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that the party positively viewed the signing of the July Charter.

Fakhrul came up with the allegation at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital, organised by Jihad Smriti Parishad in memory of  Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist Nazir Uddin Ahmed Jihad, who was shot dead in Dhaka on October 10, 1990, during the anti-Ershad movement.

‘Efforts are being made to bring bureaucracy under the control of a particular party. We will never tolerate such a move,’ he said.

During the election, the bureaucracy, the government, and the Election Commission must remain completely neutral, he said, adding that the Election Commission must not bow to any party or succumb to undue political pressure.

The BNP leader said that an opportunity had opened to return to democratic rule through ousting Hasina by the mass uprising past year.

‘The only way back to democracy is a free, fair, and impartial election. There is no alternative. Democracy cannot be created by a few people making laws among themselves.’

He said that the national elections must be held only within the February, 2026 timeframe set in June by BNP acting chair Tarique Rahman and interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at a meeting in London.

Earlier, in the morning, BNP leaders, including Aman Ullah Aman, paid tributes at the Shaheed Jehad memorial by placing wreaths there at Jehad Square, marking his 35th death anniversary.

Fakhrul said that it made him laugh when some people questioned BNP’s sincerity about reforms, as it was the BNP which brought about all necessary reforms in Bangladesh.

Noting that rumours were being spread against the BNP, he said, ‘We brought about reform before, and we will bring about it again. Reform is an ongoing process and it will continue. So, there is nothing to gain by needlessly smearing the BNP with false propaganda.’

He slammed the National Citizen Party for issuing threats that they would not contest the election unless they were allocated the water lily symbol and demanding that the Election Commission should remove other national emblems, including the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’, from the list of election symbols if their request is not granted.

‘We have not stopped you (NCP) from getting any symbol. Which symbol you will receive will be decided by the Election Commission. We have never said that you could not be given that symbol. So, why this needless tug of war over the BNP’s Sheaf of Paddy?’

He said that the reason behind talking about the BNP’s Sheaf of Paddy was simple, as it was an ‘unbeatable’ symbol.

If the BNP’s Sheaf of Paddy survives, the enemies of Bangladesh will be forced to abandon all their conspiracies and be defeated, he added.

Fakhrul recalled the BNP’s struggle and sacrifices against autocratic rulers -- Ershad in the 1990s and Sheikh Hasina over the last 15 years -- for the restoration of democracy in the country.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in another programme said that the BNP viewed the July Charter positively, which is scheduled to be signed on October 15.

‘We hope that all the political parties in the country will reach a consensus on the July Charter within the stipulated time,’ he said.

Rizvi made the remarks after paying tributes at the tomb of BNP founder and Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.

The tributes were paid by the newly formed committee of the Agriculturists’ Association of Bangladesh.

Rizvi said, ‘Discussion is the only way to resolve any contentous issue in politics.’

He said, ‘If the BNP comes to power with the support of the people, the Agriculturists’ Association of Bangladesh will not be limited to organisational activities only; they will play a pioneering role in ensuring the country’s food security, protecting soil health and maintaining environmental balance.’

Regarding the party acting chair Tarique Rahman’s interview with the BBC Bangla, he said, ‘His statement not only calls for unity but also outlines the blueprint, policy, and fact-based perspective for the country’s future reconstruction.’

‘Tarique Rahman’s statement contains not only a message for unity but also a promise of establishing justice and a new political culture,’ Rizvi added.