Mirza Fakhrul hails BNP manifesto as turning point for Bangladesh

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday delivering the welcome speech at the BNP's election manifesto unveiling programme at the ballroom of the Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. Photo: BSS

Online Desk

Published: 2026-02-06 19:57:15

In a speech charged with emotive rhetoric, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has described the party’s newly unveiled election manifesto as a “new sunrise” for a nation emerging from years of political turbulence. Speaking at a formal ceremony at the Sonargaon Hotel on Friday, Mirza Fakhrul framed the upcoming 12 February polls as the culmination of immense national sacrifice and a long-awaited return to democratic legitimacy.

The Secretary General’s address served as a high-stakes prologue to the manifesto launch, positioning the document not just as a policy platform but as a historic blueprint for national healing.

The ‘Visionary’ Transition

The event marked a significant generational shift for the BNP. Mirza Fakhrul formally introduced Tarique Rahman as a “young, creative, and visionary leader” capable of navigating the “complex geopolitical realities” currently facing Dhaka. This transition is a cornerstone of the party’s strategy for the 13^th Parliamentary Election, as Rahman takes the mantle previously held by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Paying tribute to Khaleda Zia, whom he termed the ‘Mother of Democracy’, and the party’s founder Ziaur Rahman, Mirza Fakhrul argued that the BNP is uniquely positioned to unite “all democratic forces” in the country. He noted that after a period marked by “bloodshed and struggle”, the country is finally on the precipice of a “neutral, free, and fair” electoral process.

A Mandate for Reconstruction

Mirroring the language of the manifesto, Mirza Fakhrul emphasised that the BNP is entering a “new chapter” focused on production over plunder. He urged the electorate to join what he described as a movement to “write a new history” for the country.

The Secretary General’s remarks underscored the party’s nine key pledges—ranging from the “Family Card” for low-income households to the integration of global payment systems like PayPal—as actionable steps toward this promised “sunrise.” He concluded by asserting that the nation’s “ownership”, which had been lost, would be returned to the people through the mandate of the upcoming vote.