Fakhrul accuses smear campaign targeting nationalist movement and Tarique Rahman

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused vested interests of launching a calculated campaign of propaganda and misinformation aimed at dismantling the nationalist political force and tarnishing the image of its acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman.

“It's important to understand that the current wave of propaganda and disinformation is not accidental—it stems from a deliberate conspiracy to destroy Bangladesh's nationalist movement,” he said while addressing a book launch event at a hotel in the capital on Sunday.

Fakhrul warned of a concerted effort to discredit Tarique Rahman, describing him as a rising political figure with significant potential. “There is an ongoing plot to malign Tarique Rahman and place him in a negative light,” he added.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, he said, “What’s most concerning is that, for the first time, our leader Tarique Rahman is being directly targeted by name. A deliberate attempt is underway to smear his reputation through a barrage of fabricated content. This is deeply worrying.”

He stressed that the BNP is not a party that can be easily dismantled, having repeatedly demonstrated its ability to recover and rebuild in the face of adversity.

Fakhrul claimed that the BNP is currently under severe, coordinated cyber-attacks from multiple directions, all designed to weaken and discredit the party.

He emphasized the need to properly educate the party’s younger members and activists. “They must genuinely understand and internalize BNP’s political ideology—without that, they cannot establish themselves meaningfully in politics,” he said.

Fakhrul urged nationalist-minded cyber activists to step up their presence online, engage more youth, and promote a culture of merit-based political engagement in digital spaces.

“There is no substitute for confronting these challenges with intelligence and merit,” he asserted.

He praised Tarique Rahman’s leadership capabilities, noting, “Tarique possesses exceptional organisational skills rarely seen among politicians. He can mobilise large groups swiftly and effectively because he has built strong grassroots connections down to the ward level in villages across Bangladesh.”

The BNP leader also underscored the importance of organizing the party’s vast youth base—including students and young activists—and instilling BNP’s political ideals in them.

The event was presided over by BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Ismail Zabihullah and moderated by Krishak Dal General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul.

Speakers at the programme included economist Professor Mahbub Ullah, Dhaka University teacher Professor Morshed Hasan Khan, political analyst Dr Zahid Ur Rahman, BNP acting chairman’s adviser Mahdi Amin, Associate Professor Sakhawat Hossain Sayanth from Bangladesh Medical University’s Faculty of Dental Medicine, and several online activists and bloggers aligned with BNP ideology.