The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a one-hour rally in Dhaka on November 8 to commemorate the “Historic November 7 National Revolution and Solidarity Day.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, emphasizing traffic concerns, said that the rally will be held on Friday to ensure minimal disruption and will conclude within an hour.
The rally is part of a 10-day program unveiled by BNP to observe the occasion, with other highlights including a discussion session with intellectuals on November 6.
Mirza Fakhrul announced the schedule at a press conference on Thursday at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan.
Prior to the announcement, BNP’s joint meeting with affiliated organizations was held, joined virtually by acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. During the conference, Mirza Fakhrul referred to Tarique Rahman as the “future leader of the nation.”
Outlining the program, Mirza Fakhrul said that the decision to hold the rally on November 8, rather than November 7, was made to avoid traffic congestion on the holiday, with plans to conclude the rally within an hour.
Before disclosing the full program, Mirza Fakhrul also reflected on the significance of November 7, recalling the Liberation War of 1971 and honoring the memory of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
BNP’s program will begin with the raising of party flags at its central office in Naya Paltan and across regional offices nationwide early on November 7.
That day, senior BNP leaders and activists are set to pay respects and recite Fatiha at the grave of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam. Additionally, the cultural wing of the BNP, Jasas, will organize a cultural event at the National Shaheed Minar at 6:30pm.
BNP marks November 7 as National Revolution and Solidarity Day, recalling the events of 1975 when Ziaur Rahman, then under house arrest, regained his position as chief of army staff through what the party calls the “Sepoy-People’s Revolution.”
According to BNP sources, Zia was reappointed as army chief on that day. Later, a meeting established Justice ASM Sayem as chief martial law administrator, with Zia and other military leaders forming an interim government.
In the years that followed, Ziaur Rahman assumed further leadership roles, becoming chief martial law administrator on November 19, 1976, and later the president of Bangladesh on April 21, 1977, following the resignation of Justice Sayem.
Since then, BNP has annually observed November 7 as a day of national revolution and solidarity.