BNP’s acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has welcomed the announcement of the national parliamentary elections scheduled for February next year and congratulated the interim government.
He made these remarks at a rally held at 3:30pm on Wednesday in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan, just before the victory march commemorating the one-year anniversary of the mass uprising. Following Tarique Rahman’s speech, the victory procession began at 4:30pm.
Tarique Rahman said: “The interim government yesterday announced the timeframe for the national elections. The July manifesto has been declared, demanding the realization of the people’s aspirations. We welcome these initiatives to uphold the rights of the people.”
Tarique Rahman also said: “In the journey to establish the democratic political rights of the people, we are currently at a historic crossroads, a moment for which the people had to wait more than one and a half decades.”
He added: “During the long era of fascism, we lost thousands of comrades in this movement, and many of our sons and relatives’ fresh blood was shed.”
Since early morning, BNP members and leaders of affiliated and allied organizations from various units of Dhaka gathered at Naya Paltan. Leaders and activists from neighboring districts also joined, turning the road from Fakirapool to Kakrail Mor into a sea of people.
They arrived wearing colourful caps and carrying national and party flags. The victory march started from Paltan Mor and proceeded via the National Press Club, Matsya Bhaban Mor, and Engineers Institution Road, finally ending at Shahbagh.
Calling for unity in the national interest, Tarique said: “I believe religion, beliefs, and opinions may vary, but the state belongs to all of us. If entrusted with the responsibility to govern through the people’s mandate, BNP has already presented a 31-point outline to the public on the reforms and politics it will implement.”
He added: “For the welfare of the country and its people, BNP seeks the support and cooperation of the citizens to realize these programs.”
He also said: “Under fascist rule, none of us were safe. Our children were not safe. Our voting rights were snatched away. All our democratic political rights were taken away, and the entire country was turned into a brutal prison and an Aynaghor for democracy-loving people.”
Highlighting an unprecedented opportunity to establish voting rights for the people, he said: “If we can capitalize on the opportunity brought about by the 24th (Chabbish) movement and establish political power; if we can ensure the political and economic empowerment of the people, then no one will have the chance to establish fascism again in the future.”
He added: “The country will not be reduced to a vassal state. We will never have to witness another bloody 24th.”
He reiterated: “An immense opportunity has arisen before the democracy-loving people of the country to establish their rights. If we utilize this opportunity to establish the political power of the people and secure their political and economic empowerment, no one will be able to impose fascism again.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “Initially, we fought under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia and later under Tarique Rahman. We endured imprisonment, oppression, and persecution but never bowed our heads.”
He added: “We fought and moved forward. Despite hundreds of persecutions, BNP leaders and activists never gave up or bowed their heads. We want to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh.”
Expressing special gratitude and thanks to the military for their cooperation in achieving victory in the mass uprising, he said: “I sincerely thank and appreciate the people of the country, political parties, students, and patriotic members of the military.”
He added: “With their cooperation, we were able to achieve this victory. On behalf of all, I thank our leader, Tarique Rahman. He has led us and shown us the path to freedom.”
The rally was presided over by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and conducted by Publicity Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku. Other speakers included Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, and Salahuddin Ahmed, among others.
