Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said that he was confident that the Election Commission would be able to conduct the forthcoming 13th parliamentary election in a credible manner, commenting that the EC had so far been performing its duties with competence.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after paying tribute to BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman at his grave in the capital on the occasion of his 90th birth anniversary, where prayers were offered for his peace.
The BNP secretary general said that while the party had raised a few concerns with the commission it remained optimistic that the polls would be managed properly.
Referring to the current political situation, Fakhrul said that the party had taken a renewed oath to help rebuild the devastated economy and to institutionalise democracy following recent political upheavals.
The BNP and its affiliated organisations, he said, are committed to implement the ideals of Ziaur Rahman in the country.
BNP leaders and activists on the day placed wreaths at Ziaur Rahman’s grave. The BNP and its affiliated organisations arranged the recitation of Fatiha and special prayers.
Senior party leaders present at the graveside of Zia included standing committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and Salahuddin Ahmed, while senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and the party chair’s adviser Aman Ullah Aman were also present.
Fakhrul told reporters that the BNP had renewed its pledge to move forward along the path that would lead to a liberal, democratic Bangladesh.
Ziaur Rahman was born on January 19, 1936 in Baghbari of Bogura.
He founded the BNP in 1978 after assuming a leading role in national politics.
During the War of Independence in 1971, Ziaur Rahman served initially as a sector commander before later commanding the Z-Force as a brigade commander.
He was awarded Bir Uttam, the nation’s second-highest gallantry award, for his role in the liberation war.
Zia first came to national prominence when he proclaimed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan via the Kalurghat radio station in Chattogram on March 27, 1971 following the Pakistan army’s crackdown on unarmed civilians two days earlier.
He rose to power on November 7, 1975, in the aftermath of a series of coups and counter-coups, and became president in April 1977.
Ziaur Rahman was assassinated by a group of army officers at the Chattogram circuit house on May 30, 1981.
