BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the party is not in favour of banning any political party.
“Who are we to ban political parties? It’s the people of the country who will take the decision in this regard,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks as journalists sought his comments about a quarter’s demand for banning Jatiya Party.
He said what is not an issue is being made an issue as part of a new plot.
The BNP leader said plots have been hatched to destabilise the country and put the country’s future in uncertainty.
He said these things while addressing reporters after a memorial meeting held at the Brac Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka, to mark the second death anniversary of the late of Sabihuddin Ahmed, a member of the BNP Chairperson's advisory council and former secretary.
The meeting was organized by the family of the late diplomat, who passed away on October 31, 2022, while receiving treatment at the United Hospital in Gulshan.
Fakhrul further remarked that a non-issue is being manipulated to create new conspiracies.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir remembered the contributions of Sabihuddin Ahmed on the occasion of his second death anniversary.
"What stands out most to me is his unwavering commitment while working alongside our Madam Begum Khaleda Zia; he approached his duties with the highest sense of responsibility," Fakhrul added.
Fakhrul remarked: "Together with Sabih, who began his journey in student politics, we shared a common goal: to transform society, and we will achieve that." He noted that while it wasn’t possible at the time due to Sabih’s commitment to his government job, Sabih, however, never deviated from that objective.
The BNP Secretary General stated that under Sheikh Hasina's government, Sabihuddin faced severe persecution. "He was subjected to brutal attacks at that time... Riaz Rahman was shot, Sabihuddin's car was set on fire, and another individual was also assaulted." Fakhrul added, "His loss is a heavy blow for us. It’s deeply painful for those of us who stood by him."
"We were like brothers. He possessed boundless energy and faced every challenge with unwavering determination," Fakhrul stated.
The memorial meeting was hosted by the family of the late Sabihuddin at the BRAC Center conference hall in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
Among those in attendance were Senior Editor Shafik Rehman, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintu, Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Zahir Uddin Swapan, and Jatiya Party Senior Co-Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud, along with dignitaries from various fields, including retired diplomats, bankers, and economists.
Sabihuddin's wife Rownak Ahmed, son Sayab Ahmed, and other close relatives were also present at the memorial. Sabihuddin Ahmed died at the age of 76 while undergoing treatment at the United Hospital in Gulshan in 2022. He served as the private secretary to then prime minister Khaleda Zia in 1991.
He later returned to the information cadre.
In 2001, Sabihuddin Ahmed joined the environment ministry as secretary. Later, he was appointed as Bangladesh's high commissioner to the UK.
After retiring as a secretary, Sabihuddin actively joined BNP politics and was a member of BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council till his death.
