BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday warned that Bangladesh is passing through a period of deep instability, expressing regret that seasoned politician Barrister Moudud Ahmed is no longer alive to help guide the nation through the crisis.

Speaking at the launch of Moudud Ahmed’s book “Demise of Democracy” at a city hotel, Fakhrul said the former BNP leader possessed the clarity and political wisdom necessary to navigate such turbulent times.

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

The BNP leader also lamented that Moudud did not live to witness the fall of what he described as the “fascist Hasina regime,” something he said the late leader had hoped to see.

Recalling their time together in jail in 2012, Fakhrul highlighted Moudud’s unwavering dedication to writing.

“When we were taken to the old central jail on Nazimuddin Road, Barrister Moudud immediately went to a particular room, determined to devote his time in prison to writing,” he said.

He added that Moudud would rise early each day to write, supported by documents, papers and books sent by his wife.

Fakhrul praised Moudud as a meticulous chronicler of political history. While there may be debate over some of his political roles, he said, “I don’t think there is much scope to criticise his work as a writer of history.”

He also shared an anecdote reflecting Moudud’s early commitment to democratic values. After independence, during the period of one-party rule under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the activities of the Rakkhi Bahini, Moudud; then a young lawyer, filed a Habeas Corpus petition to secure the release of communist leader Shanti Sen and several others who had been tortured after their arrest in Khulna.

Fakhrul said the incident demonstrated Moudud’s firm belief in democratic principles and human rights.

“Both in this book and in his other writings, we see that Barrister Moudud Ahmed was fundamentally a democratic political leader,” he added. “Although he may have taken different positions at times, he was ultimately searching for a path back to democracy.”

Fakhrul urged young people and those who have struggled for freedom from what he termed “fascist rule” to read “Demise of Democracy”, calling it an important work for understanding the country’s political realities.