BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated on Saturday that the international community has thrown its weight behind Bangladesh’s journey towards a democratic system through electoral means.
Addressing reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from the United States, Fakhrul emphasized, “The entire world is endorsing this democratic transition. The solidarity from the democratic nations, in particular, is unequivocally with the people of Bangladesh.”
He conveyed that the party’s central objective is a restoration of democratic governance. “Our directive is clear: to re-embrace democracy. In line with the guidance of our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, we will commence preparations for the upcoming February election,” the senior BNP leader affirmed.
Fakhrul’s visit to New York, which commenced on September 23, was part of a delegation accompanying Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to the 80th United Nations General Assembly session. While Yunus returned on October 2, Fakhrul extended his stay to attend a party event in the US before returning.
Reflecting on the UN engagement, he described the trip as a success. “We accepted the Chief Adviser’s invitation and fulfilled our duties at the General Assembly. This initiative, where the government extended an invitation to major political parties to project national unity, is unprecedented and has effectively communicated Bangladesh’s message to the global stage,” he remarked.
He also highlighted the significance of the sideline meetings in New York, noting they were “highly productive for the cause of Bangladesh and the broader democratic process.”
When questioned about the reported harassment upon his arrival in New York, Fakhrul downplayed the incident, attributing such occurrences to the political culture of the ruling party. “We do not give much importance to these matters. This is part of the Awami League’s typical strategy to create disturbances,” he commented.
The delegation included several political figures, such as Humayun Kabir, an adviser to the BNP acting chairman, and representatives from other political entities.