Mirza Fakhrul passes his birthday in prison

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary-general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), observed his 77th birthday within the confines of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj this Friday.

On this occasion, his wife Rahat Ara Begum, younger daughter Shfaru Mirza Shumi, and sister Nazma Kalam visited him in prison. They conveyed their birthday wishes during their time together.

Sayrul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP chairperson's media wing, informed Prothom Alo that Fakhrul's family arrived at the jail around noon and spent approximately 45 minutes with him. They brought his favourite foods and a birthday cake to mark the occasion.

Fakhrul's sister, Nazma Kalam, made a special trip from the United States to be with her brother on his birthday, Khan noted.

Born on January 26, 1948, in Thakurgaon, Mirza Fakhrul was an active participant in the Bangladesh Chhatra Union at Dhaka University during the 1960s. He later pursued a career in teaching economics at government colleges. Fakhrul also served as the state minister for agriculture in the BNP-led 4-Party alliance government in 2001.

Initially the joint secretary-general, Fakhrul assumed the role of acting secretary-general of the BNP following the death of then-secretary general Khondkar Delwar Hossain in March 2011. He was officially elected as the party's secretary-general in 2016.

Fakhrul has been incarcerated since October 29, following his arrest in connection with clashes between BNP supporters and police surrounding the party's grand rally on October 28.