BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that a section of vested interests is conspiring to sabotage the forthcoming national election by raising what he termed as "irrelevant and distracting demands."

Speaking at a memorial discussion held at the National Press Club on Wednesday (August 27) to mark the 10th death anniversary of veteran freedom fighter, former prime minister, and Jatiya Party chairman Kazi Zafar Ahmed, Fakhrul said a “deliberate attempt” is being made to disrupt the electoral process.

“Had elections been held within three months of the mass uprising, this crisis would not have emerged,” Fakhrul said, warning that undemocratic forces seize power whenever delays occur in democratic transitions.

He began his speech by paying deep tribute to Kazi Zafar, recalling him as a legendary student leader of the 1960s and ’70s whose speeches captivated audiences.

Reflecting on the political legacy of the late leader, Fakhrul acknowledged public disappointment when Zafar joined an autocratic regime, but maintained that at heart he was a revolutionary, patriot, and advocate of democracy.

Turning to the present political climate, Fakhrul voiced grave concern, saying the country is struggling to emerge from what he called “a brutal fascist grip” toward a democratic future. However, he accused certain political quarters of deliberately attempting to derail that process.

“These groups are floating unfamiliar ideas like the proportional representation (PR) system, which the general public neither recognises nor understands,” he said, adding that such proposals are sowing confusion about the voting process and election outcomes.

Fakhrul reminded the audience that he had called for elections within three months of the recent change in government, warning that “the longer the delay, the greater the risk of undemocratic forces rising.”

Citing the events of 1/11 in 2007, he said the two-year delay in holding elections then had enabled authoritarian forces to seize control, which, according to him, caused 16 years of suffering for the nation.

Urging citizens to remain alert and vigilant, the BNP leader said, “The people of Bangladesh know how to rise during times of crisis. Like the phoenix, Bangladesh has repeatedly risen from the ashes.”

He concluded by paying homage to Maulana Bhasani, Ziaur Rahman, and Khaleda Zia, calling for unity to fulfill the dreams of those who gave their lives for the nation and to safeguard its future.