BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on party members to take to the streets again, similar to August 5, to demand their rights.
On Monday, during a rally organized by the Thakurgaon District BNP at the Shivganj Degree College ground in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, Mirza Fakhrul made this call at 4pm.
Addressing the gathered party members, Mirza Fakhrul asked: "Do you truly want change? Or do you want to return to the Awami League’s boat again?"
When the attendees responded negatively, he added: "Just like how everyone united and took to the streets on August 5, we must unite again and take to the streets. We must take to the streets to demand our rights—our voting rights, our rights to food, justice, and social equality."
Mirza Fakhrul further said: "For the past 15-16 years, we have given a lot of blood, endured much hardship, and suffered immensely. So, today the most important thing for us is to live in peace. We want to hold peaceful elections where we can vote and elect those we prefer."
Criticizing the Awami League’s misrule, he said: "Now we no longer have to go to jail. We are in such peace now that the police no longer attack our homes at night. At least we are at peace now, no longer having to sit on the fields or in trees during the night, something we were forced to do for the past 15 years."
Mirza Fakhrul continued: "In 1971, we fought for an independent state. We fought to free ourselves from the Pakistani military. Many people gave their lives in this struggle, and Hindus and Muslims left their homes and fled to India. We will never forget that. We fled to India as refugees, our homes looted by the Pakistani forces. Later, we gained independence after a long struggle, and we finally got a country. We had hopes that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a great leader, would bring us a peaceful and prosperous country. We expected to live as brothers, united. But sadly, we did not get that. From the moment we became independent, conflicts, violence, and bloodshed began."
He also said: "The most tragic thing is that the party (Awami League) and leader (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) that the people loved, the same party turned against the people. During that time, JSD (Rob) had separated from Awami League, criticizing them for their mismanagement of the country. Awami League, busy with corruption, theft, and looting, had killed around 30,000 JSD members right after independence."
Mirza Fakhrul further said: "For the past 50 years, we have struggled, fought, and worked towards a peaceful, loving, and developed nation. Unfortunately, when Awami League came to power again in 2008, oppression and torture began anew. This time, however, they kept a facade of democracy by keeping a few other parties, but once again, they aimed for a one-party system. In 2012, they abolished the caretaker government system and brought elections under a partisan government. As a result, we were unable to vote three times, and Awami League destroyed the electoral system."
He said, "Now there is a demand that we have done everything alone. But for 15 years, we endured police beatings, false cases, imprisonment, and repression."
Mirza Fakhrul continued: "It’s not just you who have been victims of attacks; nearly seven thousand cases were filed against the people of the district, and over 100 cases were filed. Awami League has filed cases against six million people across the country, and they have forcibly disappeared 700 individuals."
He concluded: "This country does not belong to anyone’s father. We gained independence through blood and sacrifice. This land and these people belong to you. You must protect this land and this country."
The BNP secretary general added: "We do not want to take revenge on anyone. We want to build a new Bangladesh with love and unity, together with everyone. Let us all work towards that goal."
The rally was chaired by Abdul Hamid, President of BNP Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.