Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that a well-orchestrated and ongoing propaganda campaign is being carried out both at home and abroad to tarnish the image of the BNP and its acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
He made these remarks on Sunday while addressing the launch of a new book titled Tarique Rahman: The Hope of Bangladesh at a hotel in Dhaka.
Fakhrul claimed that these smear campaigns are deliberately designed to undermine the BNP’s credibility and leadership, with particular focus on discrediting Tarique through misinformation and defamation.
In recent years, the party has faced increased restrictions, legal battles, and challenges in mobilising public support under what it claims is systematic repression.
Highlighting the shifting landscape of political engagement, Fakhrul underscored the growing influence of social media in shaping public opinion.
“Traditional media no longer holds the same sway it once did. Social media now plays a significant role in shaping public perception, and the party must adapt to this change,” he said.
He further warned that future political struggles would increasingly take place in the digital sphere, and the BNP must be prepared to defend itself against such evolving forms of attack.
Fakhrul also acknowledged internal challenges within the party, noting that many senior leaders remain unfamiliar with the technical aspects of digital communication.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that our leadership is equipped with the tools necessary to thrive in this new age. The youth must lead this charge,” he urged, calling on younger members to take a more proactive role in the digital arena.
He emphasised the importance of instilling the party’s political ideology and principles in the younger generation.
“If we want to strengthen our political struggle, we must ensure that the BNP’s ideals and philosophy are firmly rooted in the minds of our youth. Without proper ideological grooming, the future of our movement will be at risk,” he said.
Fakhrul also stressed that this is not merely about confronting current challenges but about securing the party’s future by building a disciplined and ideologically sound new generation of leaders. “It’s not just about fighting today’s battles. It’s about securing our political future, and for that, we need a disciplined, ideologically strong youth,” he added.
Senior leaders of the BNP were also present at the event.