‘No longer a party man, he belongs to Bangladesh’

Physician and young politician Tasnim Jara on Friday shared her memories of Bangladesh’s new President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. 

In a post on her verified Facebook page following his swearing-in as president, she highlighted various aspects of his political career, principles and personality.

Tasnim Jara wrote that she had the opportunity to cast her first vote in 2018. 

“Ahead of that year’s election, he [Mirza Fakhrul] made a video addressing young voters like me. He began by saying, ‘I want to say something to those of you who will be voting for the first time this year.’”

Terming him an eloquent speaker, she said that before entering politics, he was a teacher, which was evident from the way he spoke. “Everyone was saying the election would be rigged. He told us to go to the polling centres and show that ‘you are the owners of the country’ and that ‘you matter’.”

Tasnim wrote, “Remembering his words, I went to our polling centre in Khilgaon and cast my vote. It became clear early that morning just how massive the rigging was. Despite all this, he won the election in his constituency. But he did not go to parliament. He did not want to sit in a parliament formed through a rigged election.”

She said that not everyone can turn away from the chair of power simply for the sake of principle. Rather, many sell all their principles to get that chair of power. “He is an exception.”

She said the Awami League government, which sought to destroy him and repeatedly sent him to jail, could not bring even a single corruption case against him during its 15-year rule. “I never felt that he had entered politics to make money.”

Tasnim wrote, “After entering politics, I sought advice from many senior people, both inside and outside politics. Whenever I spoke with him [Mirza Fakhrul], I would ask about the lessons he had learned from his political life. He spoke openly about everything. He told me which books I should read and gave me books from his own collection.

“You will not find many people in our political arena who will talk to you about books or lend you books to read. The way an individual views politics is reflected in these little things.”

Mirza Fakhrul assumed the highest office of the state on Friday, she said, adding, “The most dangerous moment in our politics is the time of a transfer of power. The presidency has been at the centre of many major crises during such moments. At other times, the office itself has provided stability to the country. The difference has been made by the character of the person occupying the chair.”

The young politician wrote she believed that through Mirza Fakhrul’s actions, he would restore the honour and dignity of the presidency and bring stability back to the state.

“From today, he is no longer a member of his party. He belongs to Bangladesh,” she added.