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Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said that the future of the country’s economy, politics, education, and all other sectors depended on the next elected government.

He said, ‘The country urgently needs a political government through an immediate election, as the future of the nation’s economy, politics, education, and all other sectors depends on the next elected government.’

Fakhrul made the remarks as the chief guest at the book launch ceremony at the IDEB auditorium in Dhaka’s Kakrail area.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was present at the event as the keynote speaker.

Fakhrul said, ‘We are now passing through a time when the whole of Bangladesh has been devastated by the fascist rule of the past 15 years.’

Referring to attempts to sabotage the election as ‘not right,’ he said, ‘For the past year, political parties have been cooperating with the interim government and trying to reach a point where an election can be held.’

‘I don’t want to blame any party or individual, but I observe with disappointment that some political parties are trying to delay the election or prevent it from taking place at the right time. This is not right. I want to thank the Consensus Commission for being able to complete some reform works in a very short time.’

Noting that the BNP was established through reform, he said, ‘BNP was born through reform. It was Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman who introduced the multi-party system, moving away from the one-party system by implementing reforms.’

‘Everything good that has happened in Bangladesh has been achieved through the efforts of the BNP, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and Begum Khaleda Zia,’ he added.

During the event, Mirza Fakhrul highlighted the initiatives taken by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for the welfare of the people.

He expressed confidence that democracy will be firmly established in Bangladesh under the leadership of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

‘The Chinese prime minister held Tarique Rahman’s hand firmly and shook it, telling him to ‘Carry the flag of your father and mother.’ On Thursday, Tarique Rahman has raised that flag — the flag of independence, the flag of the people’s rights, the flag of democracy, and the flag of development.’

BNP chairperson’s advisory council member freedom fighter Abdus Salam presided over the event, while former DU vice-chancellor Professor Anwarullah Chowdhury and adviser to the BNP acting chairman Mahadi Amin were present as special guests.