BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said that meaningful reform and governance are not possible by hiring a handful of individuals from home or abroad, stressing that genuine change must come through a democratic process and public mandate.

“Can a country be run by hiring a few people from home and abroad? No, it cannot. This simple fact we need to understand,” Fakhrul said at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, organised by Zia Parishad to mark the first anniversary of last year’s July uprising.

He criticised assumptions that structural reform can happen overnight or through a few meetings. “Reform is a continuous process. You can’t simply order the police to stop taking bribes — you have to build systems where corruption is structurally discouraged,” he said.

Fakhrul defended the BNP’s emphasis on elections, arguing that without them, public representation and true democracy are impossible. “People question why BNP talks only about elections. But how else do we get representatives who reflect the people’s will? Without elections, there is no Parliament, and without Parliament, there is no people’s rule,” he said.

He also dismissed the push for a proportional representation (PR) electoral system, saying it is unfamiliar and unsuitable for Bangladesh’s political culture. “Our people understand voting for candidates and party symbols like the Sheaf of Paddy or the Hand Fan — not voting for a party list,” he said.

Explaining the PR model, he noted that it deprives citizens of choosing local representatives. “You vote for a party, and the party then selects MPs — that disconnects voters from their representatives,” he said, adding that BNP does not support PR for parliamentary elections.

Fakhrul sharply criticised the bureaucracy, calling it a “major obstacle” to development. “This is a negative bureaucracy. We need to make it people-oriented and accountable,” he said, accusing the ruling Awami League of destroying institutions, including the judiciary, administration, healthcare, universities, and political parties.

He also claimed that the country is going through a severe political and economic crisis. “Bangladesh is in a vacuum — politically and economically. We must break out of this to build a system that truly benefits the people.”

Amid reports in the media about BNP members’ alleged misconduct, Fakhrul stressed the need for integrity within the party. “Honesty must come first. If we are to represent Ziaur Rahman’s ideals, our leaders and activists must be honest and committed,” he said.

He concluded by urging all political actors to return to the people and reflect their needs in the governance process. “Real reform begins and ends with the people. No shortcuts will do.”