BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday called on party members and supporters to transform their grief over the passing of Chairperson Khaleda Zia into renewed determination, strengthening BNP into an unstoppable force and advancing the cause of a truly democratic Bangladesh.
“Let us turn the grief over Khaleda Zia’s death into strength, build BNP into an unstoppable party, and establish Bangladesh as a truly democratic country,” he said.
Fakhrul spoke to reporters after a meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee at the Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday afternoon.
“The passing of our national leader is an irreplaceable loss in Bangladesh’s political history, and filling this void will not be easy. She left us at a time when she was most needed and when the nation was moving towards elections to strengthen democracy and establish a democratic system. She left us at a critical moment for our country,” he said.
Fakhrul said the grief and sorrow over the demise of their topmost leader is very difficult for them to bear, but they wanted to transform this grief into strength.
By following the path laid out by Khaleda, he said they want to give democracy an institutional shape in Bangladesh and establish democracy firmly in the country through a free and fair election,
Speaking outside the BNP Chairperson’s office with members of the Standing Committee, Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia was not only a great politician for Bangladesh but also a respected figure in the democratic world as she dedicated her whole life to democracy.
He described her as a brave, wise, and exceptional leader who fought repeatedly to protect democracy, even facing imprisonment and persecution.
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“Today, she is no longer with us,” Fakhrul said, his voice choking with emotion.
He also said Khaleda spent almost her entire political life fighting for democracy and upholding its values.
“She served as Prime Minister three times, working to strengthen democracy and improve people’s lives. Even as an opposition leader, she continued her efforts to support democratic institutions,” the BNP leader said.