An unhealthy competition has begun to cling to power, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday (January 9).

"I don`t know why we can`t restore trust among ourselves after the fleeing of Sheikh Hasina from the country. We can`t stay together with unity. Now, an unfortunate trend has started in the helm of power. I don`t think that it is something healthy. An unhealthy competition has begun to cling to power at any cost," he said.

Mirza Fakhrul was speaking as the chief guest an event organized on the occasion of unveiling the cover page of a book, "Rajbandir Jobanbondi" at the BNP Chairperson`s office at Gulshan in the capital early Thursday afternoon.

Referring to the reform programmes being carried on by the interim government, he said, "We will not be able to give legitimacy to any reform without an elected government and parliament."

Mirza Fakhrul said: "We will urge all the democracy and freedom loving people of the country to remain united and not to be divided. I will request the political activists not to create division among yourselves."

Making an allegation of creating division over reforms, the BNP leader said, "I don`t know why some people have become completely desperate in the country. It appears that they will divide the country, divide the people, and they are saying different things, and making different provocative remarks. Please, don`t get indulge in those things," he said.

Mirza Fakhrul said, "Our leader acting chairman Tarique Rahman Saheb will fully get rid of all the cases after some days. He will also appear among us, Inshallah!"

The book is written mainly based on Khaleda Zia`s deposition submitted to the court under Section 342 in Zia Orphanage Trust Corruption case. The book was edited by late Dhaka University`s vice-chancellor Professor Dr Emajuddin Ahmed. Published by The Patriot Publishing House, the price of the 300-page book is Tk 200.

The BNP Secretary General also recalled the important contributions of BNP lawyer Advocate Abdur Rezzaq Khan, journalist Shafique Rehman and Khaleda Zia`s former press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan in transforming Khaleda Zia`s depositions at the court into a book.

He also requested all to read the book. "If you read the book, you will notice that it is a history, it is a directive, and it is the best politics. Many of us don`t know what is there in this book."

With BNP Chairperson`s Advisory Council member and former secretary Ismail Zabiullah in the chair, elderly journalist Shafique Rehman attended the event as special guest.

It was also addressed by Mahmuda Habiba, BNP Acting Chairman`s adviser Mahdi Amin, former pilot of Bangladesh Biman Rezaur Rahman.

The function was moderated by BNP leader Shahidul Islam.