BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today spoke as the chief guest at a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city's Kakrail area. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Nov 22, 2025 (BSS)- BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said that following the July Uprising, BNP wants to capitalize on the opportunity for change to establish a permanent democratic state system in the country.

He said, "Emerging from the horrific, monstrous rule of the last 15 to 16 years, our sons, through immense sacrifice and by giving their lives, have brought about a change. We want to capitalize on this change and use this opportunity to make a democratic state system permanent in the country. This will establish the rights of all citizens." 

Fakhrul made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city's Kakrail area.

The Caretaker Welfare Council of the Mosque-based Children and Mass Education Programme under the Islamic Foundation organized the event.

Reiterating his party's core values, Mirza Fakhrul said, "We are a liberal democratic party. We believe that where democracy prevails, the rights of people of all classes, religions, and ethnicities can be guaranteed. Without democracy, no one's rights can be protected."

The senior BNP leader said, "For 15-16 years, we have seen how fascist Hasina snatched the rights of every person in the country, including the right to vote. This fascist regime even snatched the right to practice religion. The contents of the Friday sermons (khutbah) were sent out in writing." 

He added that it was even more distressing to see that some of our Alem-Olama (Islamic scholars) had met with her and had given her the title of "Qawmi Jononi" (Mother of the Qawmi people).

Emphasizing that the BNP upholds Islamic values, he said, "Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman incorporated 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem' into the Constitution. He also introduced the principle of 'Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah' as a fundamental principle of the Constitution-one to which the BNP remains firmly committed." 

Referring to the BNP's signing of the July Charter as part of its reform-driven stance, Mirza Fakhrul said, "It was the BNP that initially proposed fundamental reforms. We signed the charter because we wanted reform. While a certain political group kept shouting for Proportional Representation (PR), they have now softened their tone."

The Secretary General accused Sheikh Hasina of politicizing all institutions, saying, "If the Islamic Foundation is led by partisan loyalists, it cannot function properly. Those who gained positions here through politicization speak about Islam, but do not practice it."

He concluded by assuring that the BNP would address all issues within the Islamic Foundation if it comes to power.