TDS Desk:

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday warned that there is a possibility for the return of fascism due to disruptive activities and disunity among those who contributed to the success of the student-led uprising.

“Fascism has been defeated, but it can return any time. We must not pave that path. Unfortunately, we are engaging in such activities that have created a significant chance for its return,” the BNP leader said while speaking at a views exchange programme at the Jatiya Press Club.

Jatiya Kobita Parishad arranged the event titled “The role of writers and artistes in overhauling”.

The BNP leader also said that fascist forces are attempting to create an awful situation in Bangladesh in a calculated way. “But why are those of us who had fought are now creating disunity? We become fearful when we hear conflicting statements from different places. There are efforts underway to push the country to a different direction through various street agitations.”

Fakhrul said that the nation must now unite around a single goal: to build a truly democratic state by re-establishing parliament after implementing the necessary reforms.

“Overall, I would like to say, we all should not create division. We must move forward utilising the scope (created through the mass upsurge) keeping the unity intact. It is also our misfortune that, even after 53 years of independence, we have not been able to ensure a peaceful transfer of power,” he said.

The BNP leader called on people from all walks of life, including writers, artistes, and intellectuals, to play a responsible role in inspiring the nation to achieve the desired goal.

Fakhrul said writers and artistes have long played a vital role in reshaping the state. “But this was not evident during the movement against the fascist regime of Hasina.”

He also said building a democratic Bangladesh and fostering a democratic culture through necessary reforms is a challenging task. “We must accomplish this through the united efforts of people from all sectors of society.”