PM urges unity over sovereignty

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for national unity in the spirit of the November 7, 1975 uprising, urging all political parties to rise above their differences and work together to safeguard Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and people’s democratic rights.

Addressing a pre-rally gathering at Naya Paltan, organised by the BNP to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day, he said political parties could have differences of opinion but should remain united on fundamental national issues, particularly independence and sovereignty.

“We should remain united for the sake of national interest,” he said, stressing that the people’s right to vote must be upheld through a democratic electoral system.

The prime minister said the people of Bangladesh could not be subdued through conspiracies. Those seeking to undermine the country from within or outside would be given a response, one by one, he added.

He alleged that a section of people was once again conspiring against the country, seeking to undermine its independence and sovereignty and obstruct the restoration of ballot-based politics and the democratic electoral process.

Referring to the Liberation War of 1971, the November 7 uprising of 1975, the mass movement of 1990 and the popular uprising of August 5, 2024, Tarique said these historic events demonstrated the people’s ability to unite against injustice and oppression.

“This time too, the conspirators will be given a befitting reply,” he said, adding that the response would come collectively from democracy-loving people. No force, he asserted, could deprive the people of their democratic rights.

Tarique said the August 5, 2024 uprising had gone beyond the restoration of national sovereignty and democratic rights, as students and people from different walks of life had also driven an authoritarian force from power.

Drawing a parallel with November 7, 1975, he said people had united on August 5 to defeat what he described as “evil forces”.

He also observed that people had been able to celebrate National Revolution and Solidarity Day freely after many years, although, he alleged, another section was again conspiring against the country.

Revisiting the events of 1971, the prime minister said millions of people had left their homes and made sacrifices to achieve independence, with the expectation of building a democratic Bangladesh.

However, since independence, he said, various quarters at home and abroad had repeatedly challenged the country’s sovereignty and sought to deprive its people of democratic rights.

He said that on November 7, 1975, soldiers and civilians had jointly resisted forces opposed to independence, paving the way for the revival of democracy.

The mass movement of 1990 had again established people’s rights, he said, but those rights had subsequently been obstructed in different ways.

Later, addressing a gathering at Manik Mia Avenue, Tarique said the forces that had conspired against the country’s independence, sovereignty and people’s rights, including freedom of expression and the right to vote, had been defeated by the people.
“Again they are trying to raise their heads with conspiracies,” he said.

Calling upon the people to remain vigilant, he urged them to pledge on National Revolution and Solidarity Day to protect the country’s sovereignty and democratic rights at any cost.

“Let us pledge on this National Revolution and Solidarity Day that we will protect our country’s sovereignty and the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh at any cost,” he said.

“Dear brothers and sisters, as long as an independent, sovereign Bangladesh exists, this rally of revolution will continue,” he added.

The BNP procession began at around 3:00pm in front of the party’s central office in Naya Paltan, with Tarique Rahman, also the BNP chairman, joining the march.

The procession moved through Kakrail, Hare Road, the InterContinental intersection, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate and Bijoy Sarani before reaching Manik Mia Avenue. Standing on a truck, the prime minister addressed the gathering there at around 4:30pm.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Social Welfare Minister A Z M Zahid Hossain, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and other senior BNP leaders also took part in the procession.