People are mastermind of July movement: Tarique Rahman

Staff Reporter :

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has said that the mastermind behind the July Movement was not any party or individual, but the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh.

The BNP leader made this remark in an interview with the BBC Bangla, which was published on Monday morning. Tariquue Rahman said also that he will comeback Bangladesh soon.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Tarique Rahman appeared in a face-to-face interview with the media. The interview was conducted by BBC Bangla editor Mir Sabbir and senior journalist Kadir Kollol. During the interview, Tarique discussed BNP’s strategy for the upcoming election, the politics of the Awami League, the trial of their leaders and activists, and the party’s stance on various contemporary issues surrounding Bangladesh’s election-centric politics.

The acting BNP chairman said, “I never see myself as the mastermind of the July Movement. The movement of August 5 – which is widely known as the July Movement – achieved its success in July. But the background of this movement began many years ago. Leaders and activists of Bangladesh’s democratic political parties – be it the BNP or other democratic parties – all contributed in different ways. Many of them suffered persecution.” He continued, “I believe that in July-August, the people joined this movement alongside all democratic political parties.

Was it only the political activists who were on the streets that day? Certainly not. We saw madrasa students on the frontlines of the movement. We saw housewives taking to the streets behind their children. We saw farmers, workers, CNG drivers, small shop employees and owners, and garment workers joining in. We saw retired members of the armed forces participating. Even journalists who were forced into exile by the tyranny of the regime became involved. So, we do not wish to diminish or disregard anyone’s role.”

Tarique Rahman believes that people from all walks of life-regardless of class, opinion, or political affiliation-contributed to the movement.

He said, “This movement was the people’s movement of Bangladesh. Those who believe in democracy are the masterminds of this movement. No party or individual can claim that title-the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh are the true masterminds.”
Regarding the credit for the movement, Tarique Rahman said, “This is an unforgettable chapter in Bangladesh’s history. The sacrifices made by people in this movement are extraordinary. In most political or anti-autocratic movements, children are not killed, children do not become martyrs. But in this movement against tyranny, as far as I remember, around 63 children were martyred. As I said before, the credit for this movement goes to the people of Bangladesh across all parties and classes-not to any single political party.” The acting BNP chairman continued, “My position, and that of my party, is that the movement has already taken place, and the people have achieved success.

Naturally, there are two sides in any movement. One side comprises those who became martyrs-around two thousand people were killed in the movement. On the other hand, around 30,000 people were injured in various ways-some lost their eyesight, some became permanently disabled. I think it is now our moral and collective responsibility-of the state, the government, and all political parties-to stand beside these families and support them as much as possible, honoring their sacrifices.”

When asked, “How are you? How is your time going?” Tarique Rahman replied, “Alhamdulillah, I am physically well. Time is naturally busy. Physically I may be in another country, but mentally and emotionally I have been in Bangladesh for the past 17 years.”

Asked why he has not yet returned to Bangladesh, he said,
“For some valid reasons, perhaps my return has not yet been possible. But I think the time has now come. Inshallah, I will return soon.”
When pressed further on when that might be, he said, “Very soon, I believe. Very soon, Inshallah.”
When asked whether it can be expected that he will return before the election, Tarique Rahman replied,
“Since I am a political activist, it is natural that politics and elections are inseparable from my work. Therefore, when a desired and people’s election takes place, how can I stay away? I will make my utmost effort and I have the will and interest to be with the people when that much-anticipated election takes place. Inshallah.”

Asked about concerns some people have expressed regarding his security if he returns to Bangladesh, Tarique said, “We have heard various kinds of concerns from different individuals. Even some government figures have expressed different apprehensions through various means and in the media.”

When asked why he had not spoken to the media for such a long time, he replied, “The matter is perhaps not quite as it appears-it’s a bit different. Actually, I have spoken. I have been here abroad for 17 years, but since the responsibility of the party fell on me, I have been communicating with my grassroots activists and the general public in various ways.”

He added, “You may know that during the past autocratic regime, the court formally issued an order that effectively banned my right to speak. Even if I wanted to speak to the media, and even if the media wanted to publish my words, they couldn’t.”

Tarique Rahman further said, “I have spoken through social media and various other channels-I have reached out to the people, and Inshallah, I have reached them. So, it is not that I remained silent; it is that you might not have been able to hear or publish my words due to restrictions. But I did not remain silent.”