BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said on Friday that the recent student-led uprising against authoritarian rule has created a fresh opportunity to restore democracy in Bangladesh.
He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the youth and general public for their courageous role in shaping this democratic momentum.
“Many lives were lost in this movement, but it has opened the door for us to rebuild a democratic environment, a democratic state,” said Fakhrul.
“We now have the opportunity to shape a new Bangladesh with unity and democratic values — and for that, we owe our gratitude to the student and general population.”
He made the remarks while speaking at the final match and closing ceremony of the Mirza Ruhul Amin Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament at Shahid Mohammad Ali Stadium in Pabna.
Criticizing the condition of national institutions under the ousted government, he said that every institution in this country has been systematically destroyed over the past 15 years. The uprising has given us the chance to rebuild — not just politics, but our education, economy, and sports as well.”
Touching on the role of politics in sports, Fakhrul said, “I don’t believe in politicizing sports. Sports must remain free from political interference. This is our country, and we must protect its spirit in every field — including athletics.”
Speaking about the stadium, he praised its development, noting that he once played cricket and served as a member of the national cricket board.
“International and national players have played on this ground. We must use this venue for zonal and national matches to raise the standard of cricket,” he added.
The tournament saw participation from 16 teams. In the final, Pabna Cricketers defeated Dinajpur Dominators by six wickets to become champions.
Dignitaries present at the event included Tournament Convener Nur-E-Shahadat Swajan, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mostafa Sardar Shaheen, Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Abdullah, District BNP General Secretary Mirza Foysal Amin, members of the organizing committee, and local community leaders.
HKJ
