BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said that holding free and fair elections is the only way to restore democracy in the country.
"There is no alternative to democracy. There is no alternative to elections for institutionalising democracy. Democracy can be freed only through elections,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam made the remarks while inaugurating the Zia Memorial Football Tournament at the Thakurgaon Government Boys High School ground here in the afternoon.
The tournament, arranged by the BNP Thakurgaon district unit, features eight BNP’s district unit teams from Rangpur division.
The BNP secretary general said democracy is essential for the development in every sector including sports, culture and good governance. “And elections are the only way to establish democracy,” he said.
“We have gone through a terrible time for the last 15 years. The previous illegitimate fascist government was like a stone in our chest. Like a monster, they destroyed all our institutions and sports fields. Our cultural arena, including football, cricket and other sports were all devastated by them,” Fakhrul added.
The BNP leader described last year's student-led mass uprising as a political earthquake that shook the nation, paving the way for the emergence of a new Bangladesh.
“Through their mass uprising, a new Bangladesh has been created. A new Bangladesh has been created in all areas of our social life and political life. The students have given us the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh. Therefore, we have to reshape the country," Fakhrul said.
BNP’s central sports secretary former national footballer Aminul Haque, BNP central rural and cooperative affairs secretary Farhad Hossain Azad, its central committee member and Thakurgaon district BNP general secretary Mirza Faisal Amin and former national footballer Syed Rumman Bin Wali Sabbir, among others, were present.
Earlier, local artists made a cultural presentation in the opening ceremony.
In the opening match, Dinajpur district BNP won 3(1)-2(1) against Panchagarh district BNP in a penalty shootout. The final of the tournament will be held on February 27.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
