Mirza Fakhrul urges to turn Zia Parishad into think tank instead of political shop

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for transforming "Zia Parishad" into a dedicated research institute rather than operating it as just another political wing. 

Speaking at a discussion at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in the capital on Saturday afternoon, the minister also highlighted deep-rooted corruption within the state apparatus and urged for national unity to rebuild the country's shattered economy. 

Addressing his party members, Fakhrul stressed that the BNP already has enough associate bodies. "We do not need another one. We need a research institute focused on Ziaur Rahman. I do not want people opening a shop in the name of Zia Parishad," he said. 

Noting that the organization had published a few books only after he pressured them, he urged the platform to focus entirely on serious academic and policy research. 

Reflecting on his experience since assuming his ministerial role, Fakhrul painted a grim picture of the administrative legacy left by the previous regime. "Everywhere I look, I only see irregularities, corruption, and nepotism. These have become major obstacles to moving forward," he said. 

He strongly criticized the entrenched culture of lobbying that has plagued Bangladesh over the last 15 years, expressing disappointment that even candidates for university vice-chancellor positions resort to political lobbying instead of relying on merit. 

Identifying economic recovery as the government's paramount challenge, the minister pointed out that the ousted "fascist regime" left behind a staggering national debt of 80 trillion Taka (80 lakh crore). 

He asserted that overcoming this crisis and dismantling the corrupt economic structure requires absolute national unity. 

Fakhrul also used the platform to clarify the BNP's stance on the July Charter and constitutional reforms, warning against the politicization of these issues. 

He confirmed that the BNP was actively involved in the July Charter process and signed the document, but issued formal notes of dissent on specific proposals, including proportional representation in an upper house and the formation of an extra-parliamentary Constitution Reform Council. 

"Everything must be done through Parliament," he asserted. Rebutting social media campaigns claiming that the BNP opposes state reforms, Fakhrul reminded critics that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was the original pioneer of institutional reform in Bangladesh. 

He accused Jamaat-e-Islami of using the reform debate to agitate and destabilize the country. Furthermore, he expressed hope that the opposition would soon submit their nominees for the special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendments recently proposed by the law minister. 

Touching upon the current state of student politics, the BNP secretary general stressed the urgent need to attract meritorious students into political leadership and guide them constructively. If not channeled in the right direction, student politics will continue to cause immense damage to the nation, just as it has in the past, he warned.