The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday said that mob violence must be shunned to build a true democratic system in the country.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the remarks while unveiling a book titled 鈥楥hobbisher Gono-Obbhutthane BNP鈥�, or BNP鈥檚 Role in the Mass Uprising of 2024, edited by photojournalist Babul Talukder.
The ceremony was held at a hotel in the capital鈥檚 Gulshan area.
鈥楾he foremost principle of democracy is that you must tolerate others鈥� opinions,鈥� he said.
Giving others no scope to speak, beating others, creating mob violence, demolishing establishments and beating others to death cannot be democracy, he said.
Referring to creating mob violence in Dhanmondi, Fakhrul described it as attempts by a certain quarter to divert attention from the recent verdict against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity.
鈥楽ometimes I feel a bit frustrated. I feel frustrated when I look around Bangladesh. On one side, we see a court delivering a verdict against fascist Hasina for crimes against humanity, and on the other side, we see 鈥渕obocracy鈥� and mob violence. I do not know what is this a sign of,鈥� he said.
The BNP leader feared that some quarters tried to reduce the importance of that verdict and shift global attention elsewhere by triggering mob violence.
鈥榃e must pay attention to these matters鈥� We must remain alert as to whether a certain quarter is, with tricks and cunning, trying to divert this to a different direction. We must also see whether they are trying to create divisions,鈥� he added.
He stressed the need for strengthening the country鈥檚 democratic institutions.
鈥楾he essence of democracy is that I may not agree with you, but I will still defend your freedom to express your opinion, even at the cost of my life. That is democracy. Unfortunately, we do not want to tolerate others鈥� views here 鈥� we want to silence them. We must move away from this mindset,鈥� he said.
Bangladesh is now facing a state of instability, Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader said it does not matter who wins or loses an election. 鈥榃hat matters is whether the judiciary is independent, the media is independent, the parliament is effective, and whether the rule of law, good governance, social dignity and human rights are being upheld.鈥�
Calling for a united democratic front ahead of the upcoming election, he said the responsibility on his party is now greater than ever. 聽
鈥楤NP must build a platform that has fought for democracy in the past and will continue to fight to institutionalise it,鈥� he said.
Fakhrul recalled the sacrifices of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, saying she had endured imprisonment, repression and illness for the cause of democracy.
BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan presided over the event.
The event was also addressed by BNP standing committee member 聽Selima Rahman, party leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne, Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Huq, National People鈥檚 Party chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad, Juba Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna, book editor Babul Talukder and publisher professor BM Nagib Hossain also spoke at the programme.
