180 million people want the Awami League gone: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has claimed Bangladesh’s 180 million people no longer want to see the Awami League.

Speaking at a rally titled “Establishing Youth Rights” at Chattogram’s Polo Ground on Saturday afternoon, Fakhrul said: “While we’re holding this rally here, another one is happening at New Market, and another in Dhaka. What’s the demand? The demand is to ban the Awami League.

“The 180 million people of this country no longer want the Awami League. Why? Because since independence, this party has persecuted the people. It destroyed democracy, imposed one-party rule through BAKSAL, and crippled the economy.”

Fakhrul added: “We are going through a difficult and abnormal time. Hasina may have fled, but her apparitions still haunt us. They continue to conspire to restore their reign.

“But their conspiracies cannot stand against our youth. Unfortunately, those we entrusted to restore democracy have not yet been able to deliver, and that’s causing problems.”

He criticised those who “forget everything”.

“They think if they come back from studying abroad and say a few nice words, the nation will forget. I urge them—look at today’s rally. If this doesn’t wake you up, nothing will.”

Addressing the youth, Fakhrul said: “We want to see a prosperous Bangladesh, where people love one another, where we stand tall with dignity.

“Our stage today includes Tamim, a son of Chattogram. He’s called for the creation of many more Tamims. Let’s follow that path. I salute Chattogram; I pay tribute to Shaheed Wasim.”

Former national cricket team captain Tamim Iqbal Khan also spoke at the rally, organised by the Jubo Dal (BNP’s youth wing), Swechchhasebak Dal (volunteers’ wing), and Chhatra Dal (student wing).

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told the crowd: “Seeing Tamim makes me feel Chattogram’s youth have hit a six today. Bangladesh’s greatest strength is its youth. The youth were the driving force in the movement to topple Sheikh Hasina.”

He warned: “No one will succeed in holding Bangladesh hostage for personal gain. Those plotting must be warned—the people have overthrown dictatorship before, and a wave of change is sweeping the nation’s consciousness.”

Referring to BNP’s upcoming election platform, Amir Khosru said: “We will seek the people’s mandate based on our 31-point reform plan. If the people give us their mandate, we will form a national government to implement these reforms. There’s no room for manipulation here.

“If someone refuses to understand, they cannot be helped. If someone pretends to sleep, you can’t wake them.”

Presided over by Swechchhasebak Dal’s central President SM Zilani, the rally’s keynote speaker was Jubo Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna.

Tamim, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib, and Shafiul Alam—father of Shaheed Wasim, a student leader killed in Chattogram’s July movement—also addressed the rally.

Defying intense heat, leaders and activists of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal from Chattogram and Cumilla regions joined the event, holding banners, posters, and headbands featuring images of former president Ziaur Rahman, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman.