Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said a “frustrated group” in Bangladesh is attempting to keep the country unstable, while stressing the need for political stability and reform.
Speaking as chief guest at a discussion in Naogaon’s Atrai upazila on Friday, he said he did not wish to name any specific party or individual. He added that the country’s political culture remained unhealthy and had repeatedly failed to deliver lasting change despite public struggles over time.
The event was held at Rabindra Kachari Bari in Patisar on the occasion of the 165th birth anniversary of poet Rabindranath Tagore, organised by the district administration.
“Our politics is not clean or healthy. Time and again, people have fought for change, given their lives, and tried to bring change, but unfortunately, change has not come,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh’s core identity was shaped by the Liberation War of 1971. “We must remember first and foremost that our identity and our essence is that we are Bangladeshi,” he said, adding that independence and democracy had both come through long struggles.
Referring to recent political developments, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described July’s unrest as a collective movement involving young people, which he termed the “July War”. He said a new election had since been held and there was public hope around the new government.
He alleged that a previous “fascist” administration had pushed the country towards destruction, accusing it of corruption, bank looting and undermining state institutions. He said efforts had been made to reverse that situation and restore stability.
However, he warned that some groups were now trying to redirect the current political change. “None of us wants any more unrest in the country,” he said.
The minister also reflected on Rabindranath Tagore’s connection to rural Bengal, saying the poet had worked to support farmers and modernise agriculture during his time in Patisar. He said Tagore’s contribution extended beyond literature into social and economic life.
The meeting was chaired by Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr A N M Bazlur Rashid. It was attended by several political leaders, including Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, and multiple members of parliament.
Former ambassador M Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, Rajshahi Range Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Shahjahan, senior officials, and local administrators also took part in the event.
After the discussion, cultural programmes featuring recitations, Tagore songs and dance performances were staged by artists from Dhaka and local performers. Thousands of visitors and Tagore enthusiasts gathered across Patisar, creating a festive atmosphere in the historic area.
.jpg "Measles-related deaths surpass 600 in Bangladesh")
