Secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said that many Islamic scholars, including Jamaat-e-Islami amir Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami, Nayadiganta owner Mir Quasem Ali and BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, were sentenced to death in false cases, calling it a shameful chapter in the nation鈥檚 history.
He made the call while speaking at a programme marking the 21st founding anniversary of the Daily Nayadiganta at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.
He also urged all political parties to take part in the upcoming national election, putting aside minor differences, to help restore the democratic process in the country.
鈥業 call upon all political parties to join the coming election by putting aside small differences so that together we can bring back democracy in the country and return to the democratic system,鈥� he said.
Fakhrul said that he believed the election would be held on time in February 2026. 鈥榃e also think that through an acceptable election to all, we will get an opportunity to return to a democratic system.鈥�
He said that the student-led mass uprising in July-August in the past year created a new opportunity to establish a truly democratic state.
On behalf of the BNP, Fakhrul paid tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in 2024 for freedom and democracy.
He mentioned that the interim government had already announced that the election would be held by February next year.
The BNP leader expressed the hope that the reform issues had already been settled, as the political parties had agreed upon them and signed the National July Charter.
He alleged, 鈥楢round 60 lakh political leaders and activists faced false cases, about 20,000 were killed, and 1,700 others became victims of enforced disappearance during the past 鈥渇ascist rule鈥� of Awami League.鈥�
He also mentioned the repression of journalists during the past fascist regime. 鈥楾he people of this country want a free and democratic Bangladesh, a country that is not controlled by any foreign power but run by the will of its people.鈥�
Recalling the post-Liberation War period, Fakhrul said that the media, particularly the press, faced severe repression. 鈥楢fter the establishment of BKSAL in 1975, all newspapers were shut down. I remember that many journalists became unemployed, and some even worked as hawkers in front of the Baitul Mukarram, as there were no newspapers left.鈥�
After the political changeover in 1975, he said that the BNP founder and the late president Ziaur Rahman was the first to move away from the one-party system and introduce multi-party democracy, ensuring press freedom.
鈥榃e must not forget that the key reforms began during his time and were later carried forward by former prime minister Khaleda Zia,鈥� Fakhrul added.
