'Culture of Mob Pressure Weakens Democracy': Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir

Street pressure and the culture of generating "mobs" significantly erode democratic governance, stated BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "The Role of Mass Media in Sustainable Democracy," organized by the Television Editors Council in Tejgaon on Friday (August 7), Fakhrul emphasized that political grievances and disputes must be mediated through parliamentary debate and established constitutional channels rather than street-level agitations.

Describing democracy as an all-encompassing lifestyle rather than a mere political slogan, Fakhrul noted that democratic values must manifest in public discourse and civic behavior. Criticizing the previous administration, he claimed that 15 years under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership severely impaired Bangladesh's institutional democratic framework. Addressing the current political climate, the Local Government Minister cautioned that demanding the resignation of the newly formed government within just months of taking office violates democratic norms, calling on political actors to cultivate political tolerance and respect for dissent.