Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), recently made critical remarks regarding the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking at a press conference on December 7, 2024, in the UK, he referenced an alleged remark by Bangladesh’s Chief Justice, who described Hasina as a "color-headed person," implying that only such individuals could claim the position of Prime Minister. Fakhrul went on to question Hasina's leadership and criticized her actions in the context of the country's ongoing political and judicial challenges.

Fakhrul’s remarks came during a meeting with members of the British press at 6 PM local time. He reflected on the state of the country under Hasina’s leadership, asserting that her departure from Bangladesh was a direct result of her leadership style. "While our leader was repeatedly advised to leave the country, she stayed and made it clear that this is her home," Fakhrul stated, contrasting Hasina’s actions with those of others who fled during difficult times.

He also highlighted the hardships faced by BNP members and supporters under Hasina’s government, claiming that over 6 million cases had been filed against their party and over 20,000 people had been killed. According to Fakhrul, these years had been marked by extreme repression and violations of civil liberties, with BNP members regularly subjected to imprisonment. “There was never a year when we did not go to jail. The police and judiciary were in competition to see how much pain they could inflict on BNP members,” he said.

Fakhrul also lamented the loss of democracy in Bangladesh over the past 15 years. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the destruction of democratic institutions and the imposition of authoritarian measures such as media censorship and the Cyber Security Act. “We were on the path to establishing a democratic country, but that progress has been destroyed,” Fakhrul noted. He emphasized the establishment of a system where sycophantic practices and state control over the media were the norm.

He also addressed the role of the diaspora in combating misinformation, urging expatriates to continue providing accurate information and to fulfill their responsibilities as messengers of truth. According to Fakhrul, the fight against false information and misrepresentation is a shared responsibility, and expatriates have an important role in raising awareness.

When asked about the role of foreign influence in Bangladesh’s political landscape, Fakhrul stressed that the country’s democracy should not rely on foreign intervention. “We cannot establish democracy in our country by depending on foreign powers. It is up to us to make it happen,” he asserted, underlining the importance of internal efforts in rebuilding Bangladesh’s democratic system.

Fakhrul further addressed issues concerning BNP’s internal politics and the future of party leader Tarique Rahman. He clarified that there had never been any issues with the state military forces, but he acknowledged efforts to identify those responsible for the alleged mistreatment of Tarique Rahman. Regarding Rahman’s potential return to Bangladesh, Fakhrul stated that the party would decide when he could return. He also noted that Rahman still faced legal hurdles, which would need to be resolved before he could return.

In addition to Fakhrul’s remarks, the President of the UK BNP, MA Malek, discussed the difficulties faced by expatriates, particularly regarding land disputes. He claimed that supporters of Prime Minister Hasina had seized property from expatriates over the past 17 years and expressed the desire to recover these assets. He reassured the attendees that the BNP leadership would ensure the rightful claims of expatriates were recognized and upheld.

The meeting was chaired by MA Malek, with Secretary General Koyesr M Ahmed also delivering a speech on behalf of the UK BNP. The discussions focused on the party's stance on restoring democracy in Bangladesh, addressing the challenges faced by the expatriate community, and the ongoing political struggle against the ruling Awami League.

This event marked another step in BNP’s efforts to rally international support for its political goals and to draw attention to the situation in Bangladesh, particularly as the country faces growing political and social tensions under the current government.