Fakhrul urges shift from streets to parliament to strengthen democracy

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged political parties to shift their activities and focus from the streets to parliament, emphasising the need for strengthening parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.

Speaking at a general meeting and conference of the Bangladesh Water Development Board Nationalist Workers and Employees Union at the Multipurpose Hall of the Pani Bhaban, he also called upon political parties to set aside minor differences and come together to make the upcoming election truly meaningful, UNB reports. 

“We must come up from the streets to the parliament. How long will we stay on the streets? We have been on the streets for 50 years. We must try to solve problems and make democracy a political culture through the National July Charter,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul acknowledged the interim government’s efforts, saying they are trying to do good work. “But no one can clear all the mess in just one year. The Awami League has created heaps of problems and destroyed a lot over the past 15 years, and it is impossible to fix everything in such a short time,” he said.

Fakhrul said political parties must now act responsibly to ensure a free and fair election and to strengthen the parliamentary system.

“Through the parliament that will be formed by the election, we must focus on strengthening the parliamentary system. All activities must be centred on parliament. Otherwise, parliamentary democracy will not function,” the BNP leader said.

He said in countries where parliamentary democracy has been successful, parliament has always been the main focus of politics.

The BNP leader also called for unity among political parties ahead of the upcoming election and hoped that all parties would participate in it.

“Let us all, as we have set aside our minor differences to sign the charter, do the same in the upcoming election. Let us overcome our differences and make the election truly meaningful,” he said.

Fakhrul said the next election should be free and fair, accessible to everyone, and that those elected will make parliament vibrant and meaningful, serving as the country’s political centre.

He also noted that if democracy is genuinely established, the demands of all sections of society, including workers, will be recognised and fulfilled.