Warning about the rise of a force that does not believe in democracy or people’s rights, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said democratic forces should unite to prevent such elements from gaining strength.

“A power is rising today that does not believe in democracy and human rights. Therefore, democratic forces should unite so that this power cannot raise its head,” he said at a commemorative programme at the Jatiya Press Club in memory of late politicians Mahbubol Haque and Mahbubul Alam Tara.

“After the July uprising, we have had the opportunity to return to a democratic process. But since 2024, certain quarters have been conspiring so that democracy does not remain in Bangladesh,” said Fakhrul.

“We have formed a government through a democratic electoral process. It is now the responsibility of this government to identify these conspiracies and move forward in the right direction,” he added.

He also alleged that there have been long-standing efforts to undermine politics.

“There is always a conspiracy to destroy politics, and those involved are doing so deliberately with planned narratives to disrupt the normal political process,” he said.

Fakhrul said the late Mahbubol Haque and Mahbubul Alam Tara were fortunate not to witness what he described as the current decline in political discourse on social media.

“I do not use social media. I do not even have an account, as I have seen it can mislead people and lead to wrong decisions,” he said.

Speaking at the programme, BNP Vice Chairman Samsuzzaman Dudu recalled working with Tara in organising Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal.

He said Tara was involved in student politics through the Student Union and remained active in organisational work.

He also noted that Tara worked closely with the late BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for a long time and fought for the aspirations he believed in through the electoral process.

Economist and former Dhaka University professor Mahbub Ullah said Tara was highly popular among his supporters.

“On one hand, he held leftist political ideals, and on the other, he embodied entrepreneurship,” he said.

Recalling Mahbubol Haque’s political career, he said he was present in nearly all major movements in the 1960s and was an outstanding parliamentarian.