Tarique calls for unity beyond division and hatred on Victory Day
He paid respect to the martyrs of the Liberation War and prayed for the salvation of their souls.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said the country's foremost need at present is to create an environment for forming a welfare-oriented and accountable government through a free, fair and credible national parliamentary election.
"To build a discrimination-free Bangladesh, our pledge should be to forget all forms of division and hatred and stand by people as human beings," he said.
Tarique made the remarks in a message sent today (15 December) through BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on the occasion of Victory Day.
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In the message, he said Bangladesh achieved victory on 16 December 1971 after a nine-month Liberation War. On the occasion, he extended greetings and congratulations to people at home and abroad, wishing them lives filled with happiness, peace and prosperity.
He paid respect to the martyrs of the Liberation War and prayed for the salvation of their souls. He also expressed respect for the mothers and sisters who made the highest sacrifices for the country's independence.
Tarique said the Liberation War began following the call of former president Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of independence, on 26 March 1971, and culminated in the defeat of the Pakistani occupation forces on 16 December.
"The indomitable freedom fighters secured this victory at the cost of their lives, making the day a symbol of pride, honour and sacrifice for the nation," he added.
He said the aspiration with which Bangladesh was founded — to establish an exploitation-free, socially just and democratic state — has repeatedly been undermined under what he described as fascist misrule.
According to him, the advancement of multi-party democracy was obstructed, democratic rights curtailed, and freedom of speech, the press and individual liberty suppressed.
The BNP acting chairman alleged that public opinion was disregarded through successive sham and one-sided elections.
He said people were subjected to repression through enforced disappearances, killings and false cases to suppress dissent.
He also referred to the imprisonment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who, he said, had struggled lifelong for democracy.
Tarique said the movement of July–August 2024 led to the fall of an autocratic ruler, creating renewed hope for safeguarding independence and sovereignty and reviving multi-party democracy.
He said establishing a government elected by the people through a fair and acceptable election is the demand of the time.
At the end of the message, Tarique wished success to all programmes undertaken on the occasion of Victory Day and called on people to uphold unity, tolerance and humanity.
"For a discrimination-free Bangladesh, let us pledge on this Victory Day to forget division and violence and stand by people as human beings," he said.
