Speaking at a conference of labor organizations on Green Road in the capital on Saturday (October 18), Fakhrul said, “It is not possible for anyone to fix in one year the mess the Awami League has created over the last 15 years. We must focus on strengthening the parliament that will emerge from a free and fair election with the participation of all political parties. All activities must revolve around the parliament.”
The event was organized by the Bangladesh Water Development Board Nationalist Workers’ Union. During the conference, newly formed Election Commissioner Anwar Hossain announced Manjurul Islam Manju as president and Humayun Kabir as general secretary of the union.
Fakhrul further said, “If this is not done, parliamentary democracy will not function. We need to realize that in every country where democracy has succeeded, parliament has always been the center of politics.”
Calling for a shift from street movements to parliamentary politics, he remarked, “We have been on the streets for 50 years. It’s time to move from the streets to the parliament. Through this national charter, we must turn democracy into a culture.”
The BNP leader urged all political parties to participate in the upcoming national election, saying, “Just as we were able to sign the July Charter by removing our small differences, let us unite again to make the next election a truly meaningful one.”
Fakhrul added, “We want a free and fair election where everyone can participate. The parliament formed through that election should become the real political center of the nation. If democracy can be truly established, then the demands and rights of all classes—including the working class—will be fulfilled.”
He described the signing of the historic July Charter as a milestone in Bangladesh’s political history. “It was a unique event where the state structure was redefined, fundamental principles were revised, and transparency was restored in politics. The institutions that make democracy work have been strengthened, and democratic culture has been brought into society,” he said.
Fakhrul mentioned that the formulation of the charter took about seven to eight months of continuous work.
Referring to a recent incident near the Parliament House, he said, “Yesterday, a group of students gathered in front of a program at the Parliament House, which led to an unfortunate clash between them and the police. Such incidents will not help democracy. Everyone should act responsibly because this is an interim government trying to do good. However, it’s not possible to fix everything within one year.”
The BNP Secretary General also expressed his party’s support for the demands of the Bangladesh Water Development Board Nationalist Workers’ Union.
The event was chaired by Manjurul Islam Manju and moderated by Humayun Kabir. Among others present were Workers’ Party Chief Coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Head of the Labor Reform Commission Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Workers’ Party President Anwar Hossain, General Secretary Nurul Islam Nasim, and leaders Mustafa Khan, Ayub Ali, Abu Saleh Md. Tofail Chowdhury, Farid Uddin Khan, Mahmudul Karim, Mahbubul Haque Ripon, Abul Kalam Azad of the Electricity Workers’ Union, Sumon Bhuiyan of Dhaka Metropolitan South Workers’ Party, and Kamruzzaman of the North.
