BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that expecting a National Consensus Commission to reform the state simply by holding a few meetings with political parties is unrealistic. "You can’t run a country by hiring a few individuals from abroad," he remarked.
He made the statement while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “July Uprising: Expectations and Achievements” organized by the Zia Parishad at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday morning.
Criticizing the current reform discourse, Mirza Fakhrul said, “Many think some reformists can just hold a few meetings, push forward reforms, and move the nation ahead—that`s not how it works. Reforms are not a one-off event; they must be part of an ongoing process.”
He further noted, “You can’t just expect the police to stop taking bribes overnight. The structure must be built in a way that deters corruption. Similarly, our bureaucracy has become a major obstacle to development—it’s a form of negative bureaucracy. To transform it into a positive force, we must focus on ensuring its accountability to the people.”
Stressing the importance of elections in establishing people’s rule, Fakhrul added, “You can’t govern a country by flying in a few experts from abroad. That simple truth must be understood.”
Regarding proposals for Proportional Representation (PR) in elections, he said, “Some political parties are advocating for the PR system, but it has no real relevance in the context of Bangladesh. Most people don’t even understand what proportional representation is—ask the common citizen, and they won’t be able to explain it.”
The BNP leader also expressed concern over some recent media reports on the activities of party leaders and activists. “The first requirement for leadership is integrity. Without honesty, BNP cannot regain public trust. Some of the reports published in newspapers don’t align with BNP’s ideology or the values of Ziaur Rahman. Anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps must uphold integrity,” he emphasized.
In his presidential address, Zia Parishad Vice Chairman Shafiqul Islam said, “Jamaat leaders are criticizing BNP in different parts of the country. But we must not respond with slander—rather, we should win people over through tolerance and responsible behavior.”
Other speakers at the event included Vice Chairman of Zia Parishad Mojibur Rahman Hawlader, Secretary General Emtaz Hossain, Senior Joint Secretary General Abdullahil Masud, Joint Secretary General Alimuzzaman, as well as Monowar Islam, Shahidul Islam, Nazir Ahmed, Shahidul Haque, and Sharifuzzaman Khan.
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