Issuing a stern warning to the interim government, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “Let me make it very clear — there is a conspiracy surrounding the election. The national election and the referendum must be held on the same day, and that election must take place in February 2026. Otherwise, the people of Bangladesh will never accept it.” He made the remarks on Friday (November 7) while addressing a rally in front of the BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan in the capital. The brief gathering was organized before a procession marking the historic November 7 Revolution and Solidarity Day. The rally began at 3:35 p.m. and continued for about half an hour. Later, at around 4:30 p.m., a procession started from Nayapaltan and concluded at the SAARC Fountain in front of the Sonargaon Hotel.
Mirza Fakhrul described BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman as “the leader of the modern democratic movement,” recalling that he had announced a 31-point reform program. Fakhrul said, “If the interim government begins implementing those reforms, we will extend our full support to them.” He added that over the past year, the government had been working on drafting reform plans, and on October 17, a consensus was reached among various political parties — a document that BNP also signed.
However, he expressed frustration, saying, “Suddenly, an adviser held a press conference announcing that political parties would be given seven days to decide. Then what was the point of all the consensus work done so far? Where did the opinions of the political parties go? So much money was spent, yet no real problem was solved!”
The BNP Secretary General further said, “A political alliance is now pressuring that the referendum must be held before the election. But we have said clearly — the referendum must be held on the same day as the election. Holding two separate votes would lead to unnecessary expenses and diminish the significance of the main election. Yet, the interim government is taking actions that could disrupt the electoral process.”
He asserted, “We will participate in this election, and Insha’Allah, we will win and build a new Bangladesh.”
Addressing the youth, Mirza Fakhrul said, “You have made great sacrifices. Thousands of our leaders and activists have been martyred. Honor their souls by moving forward and ensuring victory.”
Speaking at the same event, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas said, “When BNP takes to the streets, none of you will even be found. Just as you misled the nation in 1971, you are doing it again. Seek forgiveness from the nation while there is still time.”
Senior BNP leaders and leaders of its associate organizations were present at the rally, including Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Abdus Salam, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Asadul Karim Shahin, Mir Newaz Ali Newaz, Rafiqul Alam Majnu, Aminul Haque, Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat, S.M. Jilani, Abdul Monayem Munna, Helal Khan, Hasan Zafir Tuhin, Sanjida Islam Tuli, and Rakibul Islam Rakib, among others.