Fakhrul warns of 'evil efforts' to divide nation via social media

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed grave concern on Wednesday over the evil efforts by certain individuals who, he said, are attempting to lead the nation into darkness by inciting a division through social media.

“We are deeply worried following some of the events for the last few days. Just imagine the madness stirred up around the issue of religion,” he told a discussion.

The BNP leader expressed concern, wondering how, despite the long-standing struggle of the BNP and other democratic parties for press freedom, media outlets such as the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star are now coming under attack, UNB reports. 

“It is unfortunate that some people, who consider themselves the most popular and patriotic, are inciting division within the nation and pushing it towards darkness," he said.

Without naming anyone directly, Fakhrul questioned whether those responsible for sowing division and disunity are true friends or enemies of Bangladesh.

"We do not want to see this Bangladesh. I strongly condemn the attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and other newspapers. I have fought for press freedom my entire life. That is my goal, my belief, my conviction," he said.

"You ousted a fascist regime that was stifling our freedom of expression, killing us, silencing us, depriving us of our right to vote, and resorting to suppression and repression. (After her ouster, if you now seek to gag someone’s voice or eliminate them, how can you justify that?" Fakhrul said.

Stating that he has been on a struggle for 15 years to restore people’s rights, the BNP leader said he had been jailed numerous times for this cause.

"I am ready to go to jail again at any time, but I do not want to see this kind of Bangladesh. Both I and my party firmly believe that I will speak the truth, even if it costs me my life. I believe in liberal democracy. I believe in the people's freedom, freedom of speech, and the right to vote," he added.

Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) organised the event at the Jatiya Press Club to mark Shaheed Dr Milon Day, commemorating the 34th martyrdom anniversary of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, who was killed during the 1990s anti-autocratic movement.

Fakhrul said although not even three months have passed since the formation of the current interim government, the true nature of certain individuals has already started to emerge. "We’ll never succeed with such faces, no matter how grand our rhetoric," he said. "It will never be possible to overcome a crisis if there is division within my own house."

He said those inciting violence were leading the country towards destruction and inviting danger. "Think about where Bangladesh is being taken. Do we understand the reason for our fears? Do you understand the assailant is standing, with a knife behind us? Had they truly realised this, they would not have made such irresponsible remarks."

The BNP leader said that incidents of street violence, bloodshed, attacks on media outlets, and self-destructive actions are putting the achievements of the student-led mass uprising into question.

He called for unity, urging everyone to abandon efforts to create division for the sake of the country's welfare and the well-being of its people.

"If you want to protect the country and its independence and protect your rights, then all of you must unite. You will never bow to division, you will not bow to injustice, and you will not pamper injustice," Fakhrul said.

He said the current interim government was established on the blood of many students and ordinary people, not through anyone's mercy. "So, we believe it is best for them (govt) to focus on achieving the people’s main goal of a democratic state.”

Fakhrul also urged those in charge of the interim government to refrain from making comments that could create confusion among the people.