Student-led movement on the brink of victory: Fakhrul

Stating that the ongoing student-led movement is on the brink of victory, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged BNP leaders and activists nationwide to offer their all-out support to the protesters.

“A mass uprising has begun in the country, with people from all walks of life joining the students‍‍` anti-discrimination movement,” he said.

Talking to reporters after visiting the Banani residence of jailed BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Fakhrul also said the movement is now not only limited to students as guardians, doctors and different professionals, artistes, cultural activists, journalists and people from all walks of life have taken part in it withering all fears.

“The ongoing student-led movement is on the brink of victory. I believe the people will undoubtedly emerge victorious,” he said.

The BNP leader said the central point of this movement is that people have awakened. “We have long been urging young people to rise, and they have finally done so. That’s why we are very hopeful about its success, as no movement can be defeated when the youth and students wake up.”

He said the way the extremely oppressive and fascist regime has killed students and the children of the land is beyond description.

“They have killed several hundred students. We have seen media reports indicating that 59 people were buried in a mass grave.”

The BNP leader said the Awami League government is outshining the Pakistani occupation forces in terms of brutality. “It is unthinkable,” he added.

He said their party has supported the student movement from the very beginning and continues to do so. “We want to make it clear that we will provide not only support but also all-out cooperation to the students during this just movement,” he said.

As a political party, the BNP leader said his party is playing its due role in the students’ ongoing movement. “We will continue to do so,” Fakhrul affirmed.

He called on BNP leaders and activists across the country to provide their full support and cooperation to the students’ movement.

Fakhrul said he earlier visited ailing wife of another jailed BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan. “The main purpose of my visit (to the family members of two leaders) is that we’re getting information that all political prisoners arrested over a month, including them (Nazrul and Khosru, are enduring inhumane conditions,” he explained.

He claimed that the family members are unable to communicate with the senior BNP leaders or provide them with necessary supplies. “It can be said they are completely isolated. This situation is unacceptable and violates the prison code.”

The BNP leader said both Nazrul and Khosru, who are elderly, are suffering from serious health issues. “Even essential medications, including insulin, cannot be sent to them.”

He urged the jail authorities to stop these inhumane practices at this critical time in the country. “You have done this in the past. Please, do not continue such actions now,” he said.