BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke at a discussion held at IEB auditorium in Dhaka, marking the Great Independence and National Day. -Video Screenshot

DHAKA, March 25, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said many are trying to forget the history of Liberation War.

"During the Liberation War, Awami League leaders fled to India, leaving the countrymen in danger. At that time, Major Ziaur Rahman declared independence and gave guidance," he told a BNP's discussion at IEB auditorium here marking the Great Independence and National Day.

Major Ziaur Rahman, he said, later became president of the country and founded BNP, gave the direction of independence while his wife Begum Khaleda Zia was first female freedom fighter as she was arrested by the Pakistan army and was in jail for 9 months. 

Those who don't know the history, they question Ziaur Rahman's contribution, he added.

Highlighting the Baksal incident from 1972 to 1975, Mirza Fakhrul said the Awami League didn't believe in democracy as it repeatedly destroyed democracy. "Therefore, we cannot think of giving any more democratic benefits to the Awami League," he said.

The BNP Secretary General said the country is facing such a crisis that attempts are underway to make the patriotic army controversial which cannot be accepted in any way. 

About reforms, the BNP leader said Ziaur Rahman brought the first reforms in the country and after that former premier Khaleda Zia made fundamental reforms. This time too, BNP proposed 31-point reform outline, he said.
He reiterated that there is no alternative to elections because democracy must be achieved through elections.
 
"Is there any other method other than democracy that can benefit the people? Today, a new conspiracy has started, so that the election can be postponed, delayed to help someone else and anarchy can be created in the country," he said.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice-chairmen Nurul Islam and Ahmed Azam Khan, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Mamun Ahmed and National University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Lutfar Rahman also spoke.
 
BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku moderated the discussion.