Staff Reporter :
The ranks and files of BNP are upbeat as they have celebrated its 46th founding anniversary in a jubilant manner after the fall and fleeing of fascist Shiekh Hasina and an aggressive party strengthening program with Tarique Rahman at the helm of the activities.
On the occasion of the 46th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman delivered a clear message to party members, urging them to win the hearts of the people through justice and generosity rather than by displaying power or intimidation.
In a video message marking the anniversary, Tarique Rahman emphasised the importance of earning the love and trust of the populace through fairness and kindness.
“This is my clear message to you: win people’s hearts with fairness and kindness, not by showing power or intimidation. Achieve the love of the people,” he stated.
The Acting Chairman extended his greetings to the democracy-loving citizens of the country in celebration of the party’s anniversary.
Reflecting on the BNP’s journey, Tarique noted that the party has consistently upheld the interests of the people in its efforts to establish democracy and protect the rights of the citizens, both while in government and as an opposition party.
Tarique Rahman reiterated the BNP’s historical significance, stating, “It is the BNP which proclaimed the country’s independence and remains the most popular and trusted political institution among the country’s democracy-loving people, even in the face of numerous challenges.”
On this significant occasion, Tarique paid tribute to the contributions of those who have led, sacrificed, and worked diligently to make the BNP a trusted institution for the people across the nation.
He also addressed the current political landscape, remarking, “Now the country stands at a turning point in its history. The interim government faces the tough challenge of building a discrimination-free Bangladesh, as desired by the students and the people.”
The Acting Chairman said the country has been freed from autocracy on August 5 through the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs and the untold sufferings of numerous students and people.
But the cohorts of the autocrat are still hatching conspiracies to foil the success and potential of the mass uprising, he said.
“I do believe that if the pro-Bangladesh forces remain alert, the country cannot be derailed. Bangladesh won’t lose its track again,” the BNP acting chairman said.
The people cannot be made to forget the disorder and injustice of the last 15 years by hatching conspiracy or spreading propaganda, he said.
State infrastructure Ganabhaban was the traditional symbol of the state and the country’s politics. But now Ganabhaban becomes a symbol of corruption, misrule, lawlessness, and wrongdoings of dictator Hasina.
Tarique Rahman said demands have already been raised from different quarters to build Ganabhaban as the museum of enforced disappearance, killing, abduction, and genocide.
The BNP acting chairman said autocrat Hasina has fled, leaving the country in a chaotic situation in all sectors, including the state, politics, education, culture, economy, public administration, and judiciary.
So there is no alternative to state reformation for transforming the country into a desired Bangladesh of the people, said Tarique Rahman.
In this regard, in July 2023, the BNP as a political party announced a programme for political reform of the party along with the state reform.
“BNP gave a 31-point framework for the state reform, which included forming an inclusive, discrimination-free, and harmony-based government on the basis of Bangladeshi nationalism in coordination of all opinions and paths, the introduction of an election-time party-neutral caretaker government system, making integration of power, duty, and responsibility of the executive, legislature, and judiciary for establishing balance of state power, not serving as prime minister by an individual for more than two consecutive terms, and even examining the matter of amending Article 70 of the constitution,” Tarique said.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their party’s main task is to implement the ideals and vision of the party’s founder and former President Ziaur Rahman and to restore democracy of the country.
Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at Zia’s grave, he also mentioned that BNP leaders and activists have taken a vow to build a new Bangladesh on the eve of the party’s 46th founding anniversary.
Earlier, several thousand party leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, led by Mirza Fakhrul, placed a wreath at Zia’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar grave and offered fateha there, marking the party’s 46th founding anniversary.
They also joined a special prayer (munajat) seeking the salvation of Zia’s departed soul and the good health of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The party also organised doa and milad mahfil on Sunday on the occasion of the party’s anniversary in its Nayapalatan central office.