Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said defeated “fascist forces” are trying to derail Bangladesh’s upcoming national election while another force is sowing divisions using religion.
He spoke yesterday at Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka at a program organized by Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal and Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Projonmo.
Fakhrul said election would be a contest between a force that stands for “Bangladesh, liberal democracy” and forces that opposed independence in 1971.
“Democracy means tolerance of differing opinions,” Fakhrul said. “I will protect your freedom of expression with my last drop of blood, that is democracy.”
He warned against replacing one “fascist force” with another and cited an attack on Osman Hadi after election schedule was announced. BNP also observed Martyred Intellectuals Day.