BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke at a civic reception in Thakurgaon. Photo: BSS

THAKURGAON, Aug 2, 2026 (BSS) – BNP secretary general and local government minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said Bangladesh could move forward only by ensuring the rule of law and justice as he joined a civic reception staged in his honour at his hometown in this northwestern district.
   
“There is no alternative to establishing an independent judiciary free from undue influence, an efficient public administration, and an effective parliament to sustain democracy, he told the event organized by the Thakurgaon Bar Council.
   
Alamgir said once the democracy was firmly established, development initiatives could be implemented in an easier way and “if we can transform the administration into an efficient and accountable institution and make Parliament more effective, democracy will make significant progress".
   
He said there would always be challenges but state's institutions must be strengthened braving the challenges and added “strong institutions are the foundation of a stable and enduring democracy”.
   
Alamgir found “drug abuse” as one of the major menace exposing the country to a major challenge as it continued to destroy the future of countless talented young people. 
   
He said law enforcement agencies alone could not eliminate the menace rather it required the collective efforts of families, society, and people from all walks of life.
   
The senior minister said Thakurgaon was set to be the site of a medical college and a public university as necessary approvals was achieved for the two major projects and implementation of both the projects is currently underway.
   
He expected the proposed university to start enrolling students from the next year.
   
Alamgir said Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital by now was upgraded from a 250-bed to 600-bed health facility while steps were taken to reopen the district's now abandoned airport efforts were underway to promote the district's overall development in areas including education, healthcare, employment, and transportation.
   
District judge Md Jamal Hossain, deputy commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Haque, police superintendent Belal Hossain, senior lawyers of the Thakurgaon Bar Council, and officials from various sectors also addressed the gathering.