BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed the hope that the 13th parliamentary election will be held in the country soon.

He made the remark while speaking to journalists after paying homage to the martyred intellectuals` graveyard at Mirpur in the capital at 9:30am on Saturday (December 14).

Mirza Fakhrul said: "We are always hopeful. The interim government has already took over power and we have extended them our cooperation. We hope that the 13th parliamentary election will be arranged soon as per the wishes of people. People will get the opportunity to elect their representatives through a free, fair and impartial election."

The BNP Secretary General said: "Today is the Martyred Intellectuals Day. Just before the country`s victory on this day in 1971, Pakistani occupation forces picked up Bangladesh`s acclaimed intellectuals, professors, scientists, journalists and noted civil society members and then killed them. We had lost the nation`s illustrious sons in 1971. We pay deep tributes to their memories on behalf of Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and pray for the eternal peace of their departed souls."

Mirza Fakhrul said, "We have pledged today that people of Bangladesh fought the War of Liberation in 1971 for rebuilding an independent, democratic and prosperous country. It had happened through the declaration of the War of Independence by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman."

He also observed that a new opportunity has come through the fall of Awami League government to rebuild the country. "Utilising this opportunity, we want to establish a true democratic, modern and discrimination free Bangladesh."

BNP Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Moyeen Khan, AZM Zahid Hossain, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon, Habib un Nabi Khan Sohel, Dhaka City North convener Aminul Islam and Dhaka City South convener Rafiqul Alam Maznu, among others, were present.