BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir commented that the country’s democratic institutions have been systematically destroyed in 15 years. However, although it is not possible to overcome the damage in such a short time, the reconstruction work has started, he said.
He said these things in his speech as the chief guest at the ‘Julai Shaheed Journalist Honour’ function organized by the Editors’ Council at the Engineers Institution in the capital on Sunday (July 19).
In a ceremony organized on the occasion of two years anniversary of the tumultuous July movement, the families of the five journalists martyred in the movement were given honorary crests and financial assistance of one lakh taka in cash.
Mirza Fakhrul said, ‘On the day the provisions of the caretaker government were cancelled, the footsteps of fascism were heard. Awami League then tried to establish one-party rule by implementing their blueprint and destroyed the country’s democratic institutions. It is not possible to overcome the devastation in such a short time. But the work has begun and we have full confidence in the democratic forces.’
Regarding the July charter, he said, unnecessary confusion is being spread about the charter. It clearly mentions that the parties will decide according to their respective election manifestos if they come to power through the elections on the issues on which there is no consensus among the political parties. He also called for the elimination of differences through discussion by participating in the Constitution Amendment Committee.
Clarifying the party position of BNP, Mirza Fakhrul said, ‘BNP is not a revolutionary party, it is a liberal democratic political party. We believe in elections and we want to come to power through elections and do the welfare of the people.’
We want to amend the constitution, never talked about reform: Mirza Fakhrul
Highlighting the repression of the previous government, he said that in the fight to restore democracy, cases have been filed against 6 million BNP leaders and around 1,700 people, including Elias Ali, have gone missing.
In this event of the Editor’s Council, the discussants praised the bravery of journalists in the anti-fascist movement and criticized the flattery journalism of the past. Senior journalist leaders including joint convener of the organization Mahmudur Rahman and former press secretary Shafiqul Alam spoke calling for objective journalism avoiding Toshamodi.
My bangla/ rabbi
