BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who returned to the country from a visit to London on Thursday, said that the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman had urged everyone to remain patient and prepare for the upcoming elections to restore democracy.

"The acting chairman has conveyed the message that everyone should exercise patience. A significant victory for the people has been achieved, and to make this victory meaningful, we must all work with patience. The election is the first step or gateway to democracy, and everyone needs to prepare for this gateway," he said while speaking to reporters after arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He landed at the airport at 12:45pm.

Mirza Fakhrul had travelled to London on 30 November, accompanied by his wife, Rahat Ara Begum. During his stay, he held several private meetings with Tarique Rahman, as well as discussions with leaders and activists of the UK BNP, and journalists working in the Bengali media in the UK.

When asked about the purpose of his visit, Mirza Fakhrul told reporters that he had discussed the matters for which he went to London with Tarique Rahman.

“The visit was fruitful,” he added.

Asked when Tarique might return home, the BNP secretary general replied, “As you know, there are many false and vindictive cases against him... he will return when it is convenient for him, particularly once the cases are resolved through the courts.”

In response to a statement by the Information Adviser suggesting that political parties are trying to prove the interim government to be a failure, Mirza Fakhrul said, “I do not know his purpose or why he made that statement. But his comments are anti-political, and I do not expect such remarks. Political parties have always supported this interim government, and this support has a clear purpose: to restore democracy. This is what we have been working for over the past 15 years – struggling and fighting for it.”

Regarding discussions that BNP is prioritising elections over reforms, the BNP Secretary General firmly rejected this notion.

“Such an idea is completely wrong. We spoke about reforms two years ago and proposed a 31-point reform plan. Even before that, we presented Vision 2030 in 2016. And we are still saying: hold elections after implementing minimum reforms. The current problems in Bangladesh are extremely challenging, and these issues cannot be solved without an elected government,” he explained.

When asked how the ongoing crisis between Bangladesh and India will be resolved in light of BNP’s long march programme, Mirza Fakhrul stated, “The crisis will be resolved through dialogue. Progress is being made.”