NN ONLINE:
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) today steps into 47-year with a legacy of sacrifice, pride, nationalism as it was always at the helm of the nation’s pursuit of democracy, human rights, and voting rights of the people.
The chronicle of Bangladesh is not merely a tale of motherland’s birth, it is a profound narrative of sacrifice, defiance, and an unwavering march in defense of justice. At every critical juncture, when the Bengali nation stood on the crossroad of survival, when democracy was disgraced, or when the people were lost their liberty, BNP took lead to return freedom and sovereignty to the countrymen by forming resistance.
In 1975, following the establishment of a one-party BAKSAL regime resulting in political vacuum, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the Proclaimer of Independence and Sector Commander in the War of Liberation, founded this new political party, BNP on 1 September 1978 under the banyan tree in Ramna, Dhaka, with the goal of establishing multiparty democracy.
Owing to various programs undertaken for changing people’s fate, BNP’s founder President Zia quickly rose in popularity. After his assassination by a group of misguided military personnel at Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981, his spouse Begum Khaleda Zia entered politics.
Rising from a housewife to a stateswoman, her firm leadership gave BNP a new direction. Her uncompromising stance on the streets hastened the fall of autocrat Ershad.
During the authoritarian rule of the Awami League, Begum Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in 2018 under a so-called corruption case. Since then, Tarique Rahman has taken the helm of the party. Through reorganizing the party, accelerating the movement, involving the youth in politics, and introducing new strategies, he continues to move the party forward.
In a message marking the party’s founding anniversary, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said, “The BNP’s primary goal is now to alleviate people’s sufferings by realizing their rights, restoring the country’s independence and sovereignty, and re-establishing the tradition of multiparty democracy.”
He said, “With the aim of uniting the people under the nationalist ideology, the Proclaimer of Independence President Ziaur Rahman founded BNP on 1 September 1978.”
He added, “The day is one of joy, inspiration, and enthusiasm for the people of Bangladesh. The party is committed to ensuring complete independence of the territory of Bangladesh, safeguarding strong sovereignty, and institutionalizing multiparty democracy.”
As BNP marks nearly five decades of existence, it now faces a new challenge in the form of the political realignment that began on August 5. The party is now seeking to come out of traditional politics.
Asked about the future challenges and plans on the party’s 47th founding anniversary, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told BSS, “Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman founded BNP sensing the political void. He not only established pluralistic democracy but also set Bangladesh on the path of a free-market economy, and Bangladesh’s economy has progressed on that very foundation.”
The BNP Secretary General said, “Begum Khaleda Zia fought against autocracy and established parliamentary democracy. Later, she also introduced the non-partisan caretaker government system.”
He added, “Now, our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has proposed a 31-point framework that outlines a roadmap for building the future Bangladesh by reforming political and economic structures.”
Mentioning that today, the people of Bangladesh are looking to BNP, Mirza Fakhrul said it is the only party capable of restoring democracy and saving the country.
“Therefore, we have taken a vow today that come what may, we will overcome all obstacles and work to firmly establish democracy and a free-market economy in Bangladesh,” he said, adding, “We will move forward to build the country by uniting all democracy-loving parties and standing on a strong foundation of multiparty democracy.”
BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “In that stage of 47 years of the party, we respectfully remember Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, because he was the initiator of multiparty democracy and re-established it after the killing of democracy in 1975. He founded BNP as a party of the common people.”
Referring to the ongoing struggle for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh, Dr. Mosharraf added, “The long-standing movements and struggles of BNP leaders and activists have culminated in a student-public mass uprising.”
He continued, “With the spirit of this revolution, under the leadership of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, we are committed to working together for the reconstruction of the country and for the welfare of the people.”
