Bangladesh will no longer tolerate anything other than democracy, aid Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
He made this statement while addressing a brief rally in front of the party's central office at Nayapaltan, marking the commencement of a mass procession in celebration of "National Revolution and Solidarity Day" on Friday (8 November).
Prior to the rally, Kazi Md Selim Reza, convenor of the BNP's Olama Dal, conducted a Qur'an recitation, followed by prayers and a special supplication.
Mirza Fakhrul stated, “For 17 long years, Sheikh Hasina and her cohorts plundered this nation. We have fought against her tyranny for 17 years, and finally, through the uprising of students and the public, we succeeded in ousting her from power. However, her accomplices are still lurking in the shadows. We are prepared to counter any malevolent force. For this, we remain, and shall continue to remain, united.”
The BNP secretary general continued, “Today's rally is in observance of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s glorious National Revolution and Solidarity Day. Through this rally, we demonstrate that the BNP is the largest political force in Bangladesh. On 7 November, the Revolutionary Solidarity Movement was led by the proponent of multi-party democracy, Ziaur Rahman.”
Mirza Fakhrul elaborated, “You are aware that Khaled Mosharraf staged a coup before 7 November. It was thereafter that Ziaur Rahman, leading the people and the military, restored national sovereignty through the movement on 7 November, liberating the country.”
He remarked, “Just as Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman took charge on 7 November, followed by Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman now leads.”
The procession, moderated by BNP’s publicity secretary, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, was inaugurated by the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Prior to the commencement of the rally, speeches were delivered by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, along with leaders and activists from Dhaka Metropolitan and BNP’s affiliated organisations.
