BNP leaders said on Saturday that former party leader and late minister Abdul Mannan’s life and political philosophy are more relevant now than ever.
They made the observation while addressing a meeting held in the capital in memory of late BNP standing committee member Abdul Mannan on his fifth death anniversary.
Paying tribute to Abdul Mannan, BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said, “Mannan Bhai was a professional who made a mark even outside of politics. He contributed to social service through Rotary International and deeply upheld the core spirit of parliamentary democracy.”
Khosru added, “Many of us become MPs or ministers, but we fail to touch people’s hearts. In contrast, Mannan Bhai stood out with his honesty, competence, and humane leadership. He understood where the essence of the parliamentary system lies – checks and balances, committee accountability, and open hearings.”
“But under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, this parliamentary process has been destroyed,” the BNP leader said. “Today, there are attempts to bypass the Parliament and democracy by introducing new concepts. But the future of democracy must be determined through Parliament itself.”
Addressing the event, Abdul Mannan’s daughter Mehnaz Mannan said, “I was never in any party position, but out of love for the party and my father, I have always stood by BNP. My husband, Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Asim, is associated with the BNP. I have done my best to manage the business my father left behind, in a way that would make him proud.”
BNP leader Shama Obayed Rinku described Abdul Mannan as a “wise and democratic leader”.
“In today’s politics, where civility is fading, we constantly feel the absence of a leader like Uncle Mannan. He was a politician, steadfast in his ideals and principles, and he deeply cared for his fellow leaders and activists.”
She added, “His political belief was rooted in the nationalist ideals of martyred president Ziaur Rahman. The current BNP leadership is also progressing along that same line.”