PM urges unity to uphold Nov 7 spirit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for national unity to uphold the spirit of the November 7 revolution, saying the historic uprising symbolised the collective resolve of soldiers and civilians to protect Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and democratic rights.

In a message issued on Friday ahead of the Great National Revolution and Solidarity Day, he said the forces defeated in the 1975 revolution later conspired to turn Bangladesh into a “subservient state”, depriving its people of their democratic and political rights.

The prime minister alleged that those forces subsequently united under the banner of the Grand Alliance and established what he described as a fascist regime in the country.

“On this day in 1975, the soldiers and people of Bangladesh united to thwart all conspiracies against the country’s independence and sovereignty,” he said.

“The historic 7 November was a defining moment in the nation’s history, when the friends and foes of Bangladesh were clearly identified.”

Tarique said the revolution defeated forces seeking to make Bangladesh a subservient state, impose one-party authoritarian rule, strip people of their democratic rights and undermine the dignity of the armed forces.

“History bears witness that the defeated forces of 7 November 1975 later united under the banner of the Grand Alliance and turned the country into a subservient state following a prolonged course of conspiracy,” he said.

He accused the group of carrying out the planned massacre of military personnel at the BDR Headquarters in Pilkhana, damaging the dignity of the armed forces. They also deprived people of their voting rights and democratic freedoms before establishing what he termed a fascist regime, he said.

The country was eventually liberated from that regime after more than a decade and a half through a bloody mass uprising led by students and the people, at the cost of thousands of lives, he added.

Referring to a saying that those who remain preoccupied with the past are “blind in one eye, while those who forget the past are blind in both eyes”, the prime minister said neither remaining absorbed in history nor ignoring its lessons was appropriate when planning the country’s future.

“Both approaches would be historical mistakes,” he said.
Drawing parallels between major milestones in the country’s history, Tarique said the Liberation War of 1971 was fought to achieve independence, while the struggle in 2024 was aimed at safeguarding that independence and the people’s freedom.

Just as people from all walks of life took to the streets in 2024, soldiers and civilians had joined forces in 1975 to thwart conspiracies against Bangladesh’s sovereignty, he said.

The prime minister said the Liberation War, the November 7 revolution, the 1990 anti-autocracy movement and the 2024 anti-fascist uprising were all driven by a common aspiration to build a self-reliant, secure and welfare-oriented state by ensuring people’s democratic and political rights.

“Our foremost commitment on this year’s 7 November should be to ensure that no one can ever again deprive the country and its people of their rights or turn Bangladesh into a subservient state,” he said, emphasising the importance of national unity in fulfilling that commitment.

Considering the country’s socio-economic, geographical and political realities, he said, maintaining national unity required embracing the spirit of the November 7 revolution.

Concluding his message, Tarique urged the nation to uphold the slogan: “Neither Delhi nor Pindi, nor any other country; Bangladesh comes first.”
He also wished success to all programmes organised across the country to observe the day.

“May the revolutionary spirit of 7 November serve as the inspiration and guiding force for building the Bangladesh of tomorrow,” he said.