BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has reiterated his party’s commitment to fostering a politics of unity, not division. He made this statement on Monday afternoon at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, during a special event where over fifty members of the Hindu community officially joined the BNP.Speaking at the event, Mirza Fakhrul said, “We believe in the blooming of a hundred flowers, and from that garden of diversity, will emerge the essence of Bangladeshi nationalism. There have been many misunderstandings, bloodshed, and divisions in our country. Now is the time to move beyond those.”
He strongly criticized the ruling Awami League, stating, “Over the past 15 years, this fascist government has destroyed the country’s economy, its political structures—everything. From that devastation, we want to rebuild a new Bangladesh. This is exactly what our Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia stated in a short message on the night of August 5, 2024—‘We do not want revenge or retaliation anymore. We want to win people through love and create a politics of unity.’ That is our core message.”
Fakhrul acknowledged ongoing political negotiations and differing interests among opposition groups, saying, “Many are now speaking from the perspective of self-interest. Some are talking about PR, some against it. We don’t want to go down that path. We want to realize the dream of the Bangladesh we fought for in 1971 and the spirit revived during the people's uprising of July 36, 2024.”
He paid respect to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and those who participated in the 2024 mass uprising, referring to them as sources of inspiration for national unity.
During the event, members of the Hindu community, led by Somnath De, Kapil Krishna Mondol, and Samen Saha from Gopalganj and other districts, joined the BNP by presenting flowers to the party leadership.
Welcoming them, Mirza Fakhrul said, “Let us build a broader unity among ourselves. There has been a false narrative, particularly propagated by some foreign entities and media, that BNP is not inclusive. But this is false. During Durga Puja and previous festivals, our BNP leaders and activists stood beside the Hindu community at every puja mandap. In my own constituency of Thakurgaon, there are 265 mandaps, and our people were there celebrating alongside the community.”
He expressed concern about attempts to divide the nation, stating, “Some are trying to disrupt the unity we built during the Liberation War and the 2024 revolution. We are fully aware of these efforts and firmly stand against them.”
“We, the people of Bangladesh—Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and indigenous communities like Chakma, Marma, and Oraon—all want to live in peace. We want every child to have access to education, healthcare, and employment. This vision is clearly outlined in the 31-point reform plan presented by our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in 2022.”
Referring to political leadership, Fakhrul added, “We do not want leaders like those in the Awami League who flee in times of crisis. We want leaders who will stand with the people in every situation.”
He revealed that a large-scale rally involving the Hindu community is being planned in the coming weeks, where Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to address the gathering virtually.
“To the government, especially to law enforcement agencies—I want to be very clear. We do not want to see any harassment of minority communities. I have received information of such incidents. Please, do not put members of this community in harm’s way,” he warned.
“You are our brothers. We are with you and will continue to stand with you with full strength,” he concluded.
The event was moderated by BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie. Other speakers included Advisory Council members Bijon Kanti Sarkar and Romen Babu.