BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stepped into 78 on Sunday, receiving birthday wishes from family, party colleagues and friends.
Fakhrul was born on January 26, 1948, in Thakurgaon. His father, the late Mirza Ruhul Amin, was a leader of the Muslim League and a minister in the Pakistan government.
As in previous years, the BNP leader celebrated his birthday with a low-key affair, with only family members and party leaders and activists offering their greetings.
Fakhrul began the day surrounded by his two daughters, Mirza Shamaruh and Mirza Safaruh, his wife Rahat Ara Begum and his grandchildren.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, senior party leaders, friends and well-wishers also called to wish him a ‘Happy Birthday’.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Fakhrul said a birthday signifies another year passing by in his life.
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"In other years, my elder daughter would call from Australia, but this time, that didn’t happen this time. My elder daughter and her family arrived in Dhaka just a few days ago. So now, my entire family, including both my daughters, is here in Dhaka. My daughters wished ‘Happy Birthday’. Your sister-in-law (Rahat Ara) also wished me a Happy Birthday after waking up this morning," he said.
Fakhrul said his grandchildren also wished him a ‘Happy Birthday’. "It’s a unique kind of joy. From the first hour of my birthday on January 26th, many friends, relatives and leaders called to wish me."
He mentioned that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman called from London to greet him, followed by other senior leaders of the party.
"The birthday reminded me that I’ve grown old...now I’m on the verge of departure from this world," the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul expressed his belief that his dreams and hopes would be realised through the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.
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“At this stage of life, I firmly believe that most of the political crises and challenges we face can be resolved, and Bangladesh will regain democracy. I hold onto that hope," he said.
The BNP leader said his health condition is not good, but he is in good spirits as his entire family is together this time.
Asked about his feelings on his birthday, Fakhrul said, “I don’t actually celebrate my birthday... I’ve turned 77...you could say it’s a long journey. Over these 77 years, I’ve seen many changes, witnessed many events, encountered many people and been inspired. I’ve found the meaning of remaining alive.”
“Now, it’s time to go... but my hope, my expectation, is only one: Bangladesh will move towards democracy, and it will regain democracy. For this democracy, the people of our country, and the millions of leaders and workers of BNP have sacrificed so much and endured immense repression during the fascist rule," he added.
Fakhrul, who was involved in leftist politics during his student life, completed his graduation and post-graduation from Dhaka University’s Economics Department.
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Later, he pursued a teaching career through the BCS examination. Fakhrul resigned from teaching in 1986 and formally entered politics.
In 1988, he won the Thakurgaon Municipality election and became its chairman.
In 1979, during Ziaur Rahman's government, Fakhrul served as the personal secretary to then Deputy Prime Minister SA Bari.
In 1992, he became the president of Thakurgaon District BNP and gradually rose through the ranks, from a member of the party’s executive committee to ultimately becoming the party's secretary general.
Before reaching the top leadership of BNP, he served as the first vice-president and later the president of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal for a long period.
Fakhrul was appointed acting secretary general of BNP after the death of the party’s then-secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain in 2011. He was given full charge of the party’s secretary general position five years later, in 2016.
He was elected MP from Thakurgaon-1 with the BNP ticket in 2001 and appointed as a state minister. He was also elected MP from the Bogura-6 seat in the 11th parliamentary election but has not yet taken the oath, as BNP rejected the election results.