Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on the BNP’s Vision for Bangladesh

Following the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party, often described as “fascist,” the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as the most popular and the single largest political party in Bangladesh. It is widely anticipated that the BNP will secure a majority of seats in the next parliamentary election.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is the senior-most leader of the BNP. He has been serving as the general secretary of the party since 2016, although he was the acting general secretary from 2011. Alamgir was also a cabinet member during the BNP’s last tenure in government, from 2001 to 2006. He is one of the rare figures in Bangladeshi politics whose career began outside Dhaka but who eventually rose to a top position within the party. 

Since 2011, Alamgir has been leading the party during what is considered the BNP’s most challenging period. With the BNP’s acting chair, Tarique Rahman, currently residing in London, Alamgir is the top BNP leader actively steering the party in Bangladesh.

In an interview with The Diplomat, he shared key insights about his party’s position and addressed several pressing issues that are currently topics of public debate in Bangladesh.

The interview was conducted by Shahadat Hossain, a research scholar in the Department of International Relations, South Asian University, New Delhi.

Do you consider the July Revolution a revolution or a mass uprising?

Undoubtedly, it was a mass uprising. For 15 to 16 years, political parties, under the leadership of the BNP, had been fighting to end the oppression and torture inflicted by the fascist government. The movement began with the students’ quota reform protests, where a significant number of students took to the streets. Tragically, many students lost their lives during this period. 

Initially, this movement did not take the form of a mass revolution or uprising. However, the turning point came with the tragic death of Abu Sayeed [one of the early martyrs of the July Revolution]. His death shocked and united all opposition political parties, leading them to work together to overthrow the government, culminating in a united effort that resulted in a mass uprising.

We view this as the fall of a brutal fascist regime and the emergence of a new opportunity to transform Bangladesh into a democratic state. The students’ demands primarily focused on ending systemic discrimination, which has been a long-term issue. Addressing this requires national unity and an organized political structure. Therefore, we have emphasized the need for national unity and have worked to foster it.

With the interim government now in power, they have begun implementing reform measures, marking the first steps toward necessary change.

You emphasize national unity. However, an adviser recently claimed that after Sheikh Hasina fled, the student leadership of the movement proposed forming a national government, but the BNP refused the proposal. Why did your party not support the idea of a national government?

I am unaware of any proposal from the student leadership regarding the formation of a national government. However, after the fall of the fascist regime, representatives approached us to seek suggestions for forming an interim government. They presented several names and sought our opinions, which we provided accordingly.

Six reform commissions have been established in the country, including one on constitutional reform. How is your party represented and involved in these processes?

No representatives from the BNP were included in the reform committees. These committees were formed without involving political party affiliations, which is normal [and] consistent with the interim government. However, they did seek our opinions, and we will send our opinion to these commissions.

The BNP is demanding elections and is currently regarded as the most popular party. However, critics argue that the BNP could become another “Awami League” if it comes to power, especially since reports suggest that many grassroots BNP leaders and activists were involved in occupation and looting after August 5.

This is nothing more than negative propaganda spread by anti-BNP media and opposing political parties. Such incidents are not uncommon following mass uprisings. We do not deny the incidents that have taken place in different parts of the country.

However, the BNP has taken significant steps to address these issues. To date, we have expelled approximately 700 leaders and activists who were found to be involved in such activities. We are committed to maintaining discipline and accountability within the party to ensure we uphold democratic values and public trust.

The Awami League always claims that minority Hindus are not safe under other parties. After August 5, attacks on minorities occurred. You cannot dismiss all of them as political attacks. Doesn’t this reinforce the Awami League’s claim?

Yes, certain incidents must have occurred. Numerous Awami League members who committed injustices, engaged in torture, and looted were targeted by ordinary people across the country — not by the BNP or students. These attacks were driven by 18 years of humiliation, deprivation, and anger.

However, the narrative has been deliberately twisted to portray these incidents as acts of minority oppression. Some individuals are spreading propaganda claiming that “communalism has intensified in Bangladesh,” which undermines the nation’s interests. This is entirely politically motivated and an attempt to harm Bangladesh’s image.

This propaganda is being orchestrated by the Awami League to present a narrative to the international community that communalism is on the rise in the country. Their apparent goal is to secure support from India and other allies by portraying themselves as the only party capable of effectively addressing this issue. 

Ironically, incidents of minority oppression significantly increased during the Awami League’s tenure.

You aim to come to power, and public opinion seems to be leaning in your favor. What will the BNP’s foreign policy look like? The last time your party was in power, Bangladesh pursued a Look East policy. Can we expect any surprises this time?

Our foreign policy is simple: we want friends, not masters. We will treat all countries as friends, not as superiors. However, we will not allow ourselves to become overly dependent on any state. In today’s interconnected world, connectivity, business, and friendships are essential, but we will ensure our self-reliance.

India is a major neighboring country. Your party’s relations with India have always experienced ups and downs. Despite efforts over the past decade, you failed to open new avenues in this relationship. How do you evaluate BNP relations with India going forward?

We have always believed in fostering good relations with our neighboring countries. This is a core part of our declared policy. Since the time of Ziaur Rahman, when we were in power, we had consistently worked to maintain positive relations with India. However, our national interests must be prioritized.

Issues like water distribution must be resolved. Killings at the border must be stopped. Equality in connectivity must be ensured. Benefits taken from us must be reciprocated. 

Furthermore, India’s unnecessary interference in Bangladesh’s politics is never acceptable. We hope that such interference will cease. Decisions regarding Bangladesh will be made solely by the people of Bangladesh.

There is currently a lot of disinformation and false narratives about the current government and Bangladesh being spread from India. This isn’t new – your party’s acting chairman has also been vilified in the Indian media. India seems to have a largely negative view of parties other than the Awami League. How can Bangladesh overcome this issue?

The only way to counter these false narratives is by establishing a strong, people-powered government. First and foremost, Bangladesh needs a democratically elected leadership. All political parties should keep in mind that we are a distinct political entity, an independent country capable of making our own decisions.

Additionally, Bangladesh must develop a compelling counter-narrative. Accurate events and facts should be effectively communicated through international media to combat disinformation.

Young people are discussing the idea of a new political settlement. Your party doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about it. What are your thoughts?

What do they mean by a new political settlement? They need to clarify what they mean by this idea. I want to know: what exactly is their new political settlement? I have not seen anything written or documented. I have no concrete understanding of what they propose.

The kind of politics we envision is already documented in our constitution. They should propose something like that if they have a clear vision.

Not only your party, but many others have fought against fascism. Ordinary people and students have sacrificed their lives. Why do you think people will vote for your party in the upcoming elections?

The BNP is a party of the people. It practices the kind of politics that aligns with the people’s desires. People want freedom; they want to live in a democratic state system. They aspire to vote, elect their leaders through fair elections, and have the opportunity to work and prosper. The BNP creates those opportunities.

The BNP has governed three times, always coming to power through elections. During its tenure, the BNP undertook fundamental political reforms. Ziaur Rahman (founder of the BNP) introduced a multi-party system, replacing the previous single-party system. Later, under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia, the caretaker government system was incorporated into the constitution – another milestone in political innovation.

Economically, the BNP moved away from a flawed socialist model towards a mixed and diverse economy, which we now refer to as a free-market economy. Following this, private-sector financing began, leading to significant transformations. The garment sector, which now drives our economy, was initiated under the leadership of Ziaur Rahman. Even remittances started flowing into the country as a result of his initiatives.

Later, during Begum Khaleda Zia’s tenure, reforms were implemented in various sectors, including banking. The BNP is a party with a proven track record of addressing the people’s problems and fostering development. It ensured the independence of the judiciary and the press – foundational pillars of a democratic country.

You have observed Bangladesh’s politics for the 50 years since its independence. The younger generation, many of whom have actively participated in the recent mass uprising, could shape the country’s politics for the next 50 years. Where do you see the politics of the new generation heading?

The young generation is already active in politics, both on the streets and in government. Representatives of the young generation are present in governance and decision-making. Their primary demand appears to be for an anti-discrimination social system. However, we have yet to see any formal, documented proposal outlining the changes they seek.

They frequently refer to recent events as a revolution. Personally, I do not consider this a revolution but rather a student-led mass uprising and a democratic change. As a liberal democrat, I believe in inclusive politics where all parties have the opportunity to participate – not exclusive politics.

The people’s preference for a political party will be determined through elections. That is why we strongly advocate for elections to be held as soon as possible. Elections will resolve many challenges and debates that persist today. Until then, arguments and debates will continue.

We initiated reforms two years ago and remain ahead in our efforts, although negative narratives such as “BNP opposes reforms” or “BNP engages in corruption” are being spread to undermine us. We are nationalists who firmly believe in democracy, which creates problems for those who prefer subjugation over freedom.

Ultimately, we envision Bangladesh as a democratic country where the practice of democracy resolves all issues. We want to ensure the principle: “I may not agree with you, but I will defend your right to freedom of speech.” 

Another pressing issue is the widespread poverty affecting a large portion of the population, which requires urgent attention to their economic development.

You often emphasize that your party is liberal and democratic. The chairperson of your party is a woman who has led the party for a long time. However, women’s representation within your party remains low, and you have not met the declared target of fielding 30 percent women candidates. What are your thoughts on this?

We will make every effort to increase women’s participation in our party. This is a priority, and we are committed to achieving this goal.