BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stressed that holding national elections is the only path to restoring democracy in Bangladesh.
Speaking at a discussion on “National parliament election 2026: The need for national unity” on Thursday afternoon, Fakhrul acknowledged that differing opinions are natural and not everyone is expected to agree with the Chief Adviser’s statements.
“We want to emphasise that elections remain the sole option for returning to democratic governance,” Fakhrul said at the event held at Hotel Radisson Blu Water Garden, organised by the Foundation for Strategic and Development Studies (FSDS).
He added that the sooner the elections are held, the better it is for the country. “The elections, scheduled for February 2026, will form a parliament that can deliberate unresolved issues and chart a clear path forward. The people are the true owners of the state, and parliament is where their representation lies,” he said.
Criticising disproportionate time allocations in public forums, Fakhrul said intellectuals often receive more time than politicians, which he described as unacceptable to the public.
Reflecting on Bangladesh’s historical struggle for democracy, he said, “Our nation has repeatedly sacrificed lives for democracy but has rarely had the opportunity to practice it. I pay tribute to those martyred in the July mass uprising, who have given us a chance to institutionalise democracy.”
Referring to his recent visits to his constituency, Fakhrul pointed out that proportional representation remains poorly understood by the general public. “Simply imposing such systems from closed rooms will not work. People cannot relate to it yet,” he added.
On forming a national government, Fakhrul said, “After the elections, we propose creating a government that includes all parties and forces that fought against fascism together. This demonstrates our commitment to uniting the nation at the core level and moving forward collectively.”
The discussion was chaired by Major General (Retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar and also addressed by BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan, Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, educationist Professor Mahbub Ullah, Professor Anwar Ullah Chowdhury, and Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, among others.
