Nizami, Mir Quasem executed in false cases: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that several top political figures, including Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami and Mir Quasem Ali, as well as former BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, were executed in what he termed as “false and politically motivated cases.”

“The nation has not forgotten the brutal repression carried out by the fascist government on democratic forces,” Fakhrul said, addressing a discussion programme at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.

He claimed that false and fabricated cases were filed against around 60 lakh BNP leaders and activists over the years, while more than 20,000 were victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. “Such persecution cannot erase the people’s struggle for democracy and justice,” he added.

Recalling the post-Liberation War period, the BNP leader said the country’s press and media suffered severe repression during the formation of BAKSAL in 1975. “All newspapers were shut down after the establishment of BAKSAL. I remember many journalists became unemployed, and some were forced to sell newspapers as hawkers in front of Baitul Mukarram,” Fakhrul said.

Paying homage to those who sacrificed their lives in 2024 for the cause of freedom and democracy, Fakhrul said their dedication would continue to inspire future generations.

He also referred to the political developments under the interim government, noting that an election has been announced for February next year. “We hope the reform issues have already been settled, as all political parties have reached a consensus and signed the National July Charter,” he said, expressing optimism for a fair and inclusive electoral process.