BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that his party does not believe in the politics of vengeance and will withdraw all cases filed against Awami League leaders and activists if the BNP returns to power.
“We do not want to engage in the politics of revenge. We do not wish to follow the path of the Awami League, which has indiscriminately filed cases against political opponents. Rather, we will withdraw all the cases against the Awami League,” Fakhrul said.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a views exchange meeting held at Shapla Government Primary School ground in Mohammadpur Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila on Tuesday, November 11, afternoon.
Citing the words of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Fakhrul said, “Our national leader said on August 5 last year that we do not want revenge – we want peace, prosperity and a developed Bangladesh. We want to move forward on that path.”
Addressing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, “The people cannot be silenced through oppression, torture or intimidation. You could not suppress them in the past, and you will not be able to do so in the future. Instead, the government should apologise for the genocide and torture it has carried out.”
The BNP leader also expressed hope that acting chairman Tarique Rahman would return to the country next December. “People across Bangladesh want Tarique Rahman back. They want to restore democracy under his leadership,” he said.
Fakhrul accused certain political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, of misleading the public in the name of “PR methods.” “These new tactics to strip citizens of their voting rights are part of a conspiracy to destroy democracy,” he alleged.
Reiterating BNP’s stance, he said the party wants the referendum and the national election to be held on the same day. “If both are conducted simultaneously, people will be able to express their opinions freely and accurately. We fully support that system,” he added.
The meeting was presided over by former district BNP vice-president Md Al Mamun Alam. District BNP president Mirza Faisal Amin, general secretary Paigam Ali, and other local BNP leaders and activists were present.