Names of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia should be in July Declaration: Mirza Abbas

BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas has said that the July Declaration should include the names of the party's founder and late president Ziaur Rahman and current BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

"The declaration was announced yesterday [5 August]. We were there, getting wet in the rain. Our party has welcomed the declaration. I also welcome it. However, I just want to say one thing — there was a bit of stinginess in the declaration," he said.

"The name of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman was not included in the part of the declaration where it mentions independence after 23 years of struggle. The declaration of independence and the revolution of 7 November demand Ziaur Rahman's name [in the declaration. The anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s demands Khaleda's name. But their names were not included," Abbas said.

He made the remarks while addressing a massive gathering of leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations before the start of a victory rally organised in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan today (6 August) to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising, which toppled the Awami League government last year.

Abbas stated, "The history of our years of sacrifices and struggles cannot be forgotten. One must understand that this success is not the result of a single day. This success is not the result of 36 days. This success is the fruit of a 17-year-long movement."

He added, "Still, conspiracies are happening. Some are hearing the footsteps of 1/11, while others have opposed the content of the declaration."