BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan has alleged that the Awami League repeatedly destroyed democracy despite claiming to have established it. Speaking as a special guest at a discussion marking Independence and National Day at the Engineers Institute in Dhaka’s Ramna on Friday, he said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could not implement the one-party system known as BAKSAL, but his daughter Sheikh Hasina succeeded in doing so by politicizing every institution, including the judiciary.

He stated that independence means not only territorial sovereignty but also the rights and freedom of every citizen. Referring to the 2024 mass uprising and the February 12 election, he said the people of Bangladesh had achieved change through long struggles by students, workers, and the public. According to him, the people have accepted BNP and its leader Tarique Rahman, who is now working to expand employment, education, and climate resilience through initiatives such as distributing family cards to farmers.

Nazrul emphasized that the benefits of the government’s development programs must reach every household across the country.