Bangladesh facing a state of instability: Fakhrul

"At this moment, we truly needed people like Barrister Moudud Ahmed. Because, we are living in a state of instability. Barrister Moudud was undoubtedly one of the people who could have shown us the way out, could have guided us out of this instability,” he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while addressing the publication ceremony for the book “Demise of Democracy”, written by the late BNP leader Barrister Moudud Ahmed, at a city hotel.

Fakhrul also lamented that Moudud Ahmed had not been able to witness the fall of fascist Hasina, which he had sincerely wanted to see.

The BNP Secretary General recalled his time in jail with Barrister Moudud Ahmed in 2012, highlighting the late leader's absolute dedication to his writing.

“I remember in 2012 when we were first jailed together... almost 17 of us went to the old central jail on Nazimuddin Road... immediately upon entry, Barrister Moudud swiftly headed towards a specific room, intending to dedicate his entire time in prison to writing,” he said.

Fakhrul observed that Barrister Moudud would wake up very early and immediately start writing. “His wife would send him necessary papers, documents, and books from outside. I saw how meticulously and sincerely he practised this study of history.”

He appreciated Moudud as an objective writer of history, saying,  "I feel that while there may be some criticism or controversy surrounding Moudud as a politician, I do not think there is much opportunity to criticise his work in writing history."

Fakhrul also shared a personal anecdote illustrating Barrister Moudud's fundamental commitment to democratic principles, even in the country's early days.

He mentioned that after independence, during the time of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a form of misrule and a one-party system was being established, marked by the formation of the Rakkhi Bahini.

The BNP leader recounted how, during that period, the Rakkhi Bahini arrested a communist leader from Khulna, Shanti Sen, along with his wife, sister-in-law, and another communist worker, Hanufa Begum. They were subjected to extreme torture for 21 days before being transferred to Dhaka Central Jail.

“Barrister Moudud Ahmed, then a young lawyer, filed a Habeas Corpus petition, and with Justice Debesh Bhattacharya presiding, he had them presented in court and secured their release,” he said.

Fakhrul stressed that such incidents proved Barrister Moudud Ahmed was, at heart, a sincere democratic leader and a democratic soul, reports UNB. 

"Undoubtedly, both in this book and in his other writings, we will find this—that Barrister Moudud Ahmed was a thoroughly democratic political leader. Although he took various positions at different times for various reasons, if we look closely, we will see that he went there to find a way back to democracy. And I believe that this is probably the best way to evaluate him," he said.

He urged people, especially the younger generation, to read “Demise of Democracy,” believing it is highly necessary for those who have fought for freedom from "fascist rule."