BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has remarked that democracy does not go hand in hand with the Awami League. He stated, "They (Awami League) have always talked about democracy in words, but done the exact opposite in practice."
"Sheikh Hasina destroyed democracy in the name of democracy," Mirza Fakhrul said. "She dismantled every single institution of democracy. The primary reason for the problems visible today is that no institution was allowed to develop here."
He made these observations on Friday at a discussion titled "The Role of Media in Sustainable Democracy," organized by the Editors Council.
During the event, he claimed that there is currently no pressure on the media and that journalists are taking decisions through self-censorship.
The BNP Secretary General emphasized that continuous effort is required to make democracy sustainable. Mirza Fakhrul also alleged that the government is being threatened on the streets using the language of the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina.
He stated, "Before even five months of the government have passed, it is being said on the streets that 'we will not let you last five years, we will end it sooner.' This language is not the language of democracy. Come to Parliament and speak your mind there."
He noted that issues surrounding the July Charter and the referendum can be resolved through discussions in the National Parliament. The Local Government Minister added, "Bring your demands to Parliament and discuss them. The way chaos was created at a state event can in no way be called democracy."
