BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressed a mammoth rally at Chittagong Polo Ground today. Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, May 10, 2025 (BSS)- Hinting an strict stance against Awami League, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today categorically said that 18 crore people of Bangladesh do not want to see Awami League (AL) for oppressing the people since independence, destroying democracy, establishing a one-party state and snatching freedom of press.

While addressing a mammoth rally at Polo Ground as chief guest, referring to the rallies organized by NCP in Ctg New Market area and Dhaka demanding ban on Awami League,  Mirza Fakhrul said, “While our rally is being held here, another two gatherings are also being held at Ctg and Dhaka. What is their demand? Their demand is that the AL should be banned, right?,” he added. 

“So, 18 crore people of Bangladesh do not want to see Awami League”, Mirza Fakhrul replied himself hinting his party’s stance over the issue. 

Mirza Fakhrul said, "Hasina has fled, right?. But her cohorts are still there, they are conspiring to re-establish the AL's rule in Bangladesh. Are they our friends? Should they survive in front of our youth? Should their conspiracy and plot be succeed? It won't, friends." 

The BNP leader alleged that false cases have been filed against 60 lakh people in the country, nearly 20,000 people have been killed and 1,700 people were subjected to forced-disappearance during the past 15 years of their fascist rule.

“Such a breath-staking situating had been created for keeping BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in prison for six years and not allowing party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to return to the country,” Mirza Fakhrul pointed out.
 
The end of this suffocating situation was possible only because of the mass movement of the youths, Fakhrul said adding that the fascist rulers and their cohorts were forced to flee the country en masse due to its misrule and corruption.
  
“Shaheed Ziaur Rahman at first had carried meaningful reforms, restored freedom of the press, adopted suitable policy that helped flourish the garment sector which is now backbone of country’s economy” he said.
 
Mirza Fakhrul said, Begum Khaleda Zia had introduced the caretaker system, adopted time-befitting policy for women empowerment and education. Today, ironically everybody forgot everything. 

He said, “Our youth want business, want jobs. They want peace in educational institutions. They want a democratic country, where everyone can speak freely. We want to establish that democracy.” 

Fakhrul Islam said, one of the message of today's youth rally is- “Young people, wake up again, everyone must foil the conspiracy and establish their rights.”

BNP secretary general said, “Ziaur Rahman fought for a democratic country, Khaleda Zia worked for democracy. Tarique Rahman wants to make Bangladesh a modern country.”
 
“Tarique Rahman does not want anything by selling the country’s independence and sovereignty. That is why Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh comes first. The decision will be made on the streets, and that is what happened” he added.

He said, ‘There will be a beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh. Where people will love each other, the country will keep its head high. The flag of Bangladesh will fly high. Our new independence came at the cost of huge lives like Wasim Akram. I hope Wasim’s heroic sacrifices will be included in the textbooks’.

Presided over by central President of Swechchhasebak Dal S M Jinali, the rally was conducted jointly by general secretary of Swechchhasebak Dal Rajib Ahsan and general secretary of JCD Nasir Uddin Nasir.
 
CCC Mayor and former city unit president of BNP Dr. Shahadat Hossain spoke as special guest while Juba Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna was the main speaker.

Addressing the rally as special guest, BNP standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said election wave has already been started across the country and none could obstruct it. 
Urging all to remain aware so that none could hinder the democratic transition, Amir Khasru said, “We will go ahead peacefully and cannot step into the trap of provocation. This is the decision of Tarique Rahman. We want to be restrained to create a new culture in politics”.
 
Referring to the presence of celebrity cricketer in today’s rally, he said, youths were the main force behind uprooting fascist Hasina regime and hundreds of JCD, Juba Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal workers like valiant July warrior Wasim Akram laid down their lives for ousting Hasina. 

“They have fought for democracy, rights of the people and bring back the people’s ownership to the state” he said adding that BNP was going to doorsteps of people with 31-poitn proposals to drum up their support in favor reforms.
 
“We do not believe in hide and seek everything. We want to keep it clear if voted to power, BNP will form national government with the participation of all anti-fascist forces,” he said.

   
Cricketer Tamim Iqbal said, “I am a sportsman, not a political person. So, we have to work together in the future for the development and promotion of country’s sports arena”.
 
He said Ctg used to produce 5-6 fresh talents every year, who played for national team. But over the lat 25 years no fresh talented cricketer grown up here and we have to find out the reason behind it.

Today’s rally in Ctg  titled “Establish Youth’s Political Right”  was organized jointly  by Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal as part of  BNP’s central decision to hold four special events in Ctg, Khulna, Bogura and Dhaka up to May 27, engaging youth to disseminate the party’s 31-point proposals to the people across the country.
 
Apart from youths, workers and supporters of BNP from 11 districts under Ctg division flocked the rally defying scorch of severe heat wave. 
Thousands of participants wore colorful head gears, banners with carrying big size photos of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,  BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia  and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman along with national flag and sheaf of paddy. 

The huge Polo Ground and it’s surrounding areas– CRB, Kadamtali and Tigerpass intersection was turned into a human sea with the attendance of thousands of party workers and supporters specially the youths. 

BNP’s Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Publicity Secretary Sultan Salhuddin Tuku, member of advisory council of Acting Chairman Dr. Mahadi Ameen, central organizing secretary Mahbuber Rahman Shamim, asstt-organizing secretary Barrister Mir Helal Uddin , central leader Principal Selim Bhuiyan,  Juba Dal general secretary Nurul Islam Nayan, JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib, BNP city unit president Alhaj Ershad Ullah and general secretary Nazimur Rahman were present.