Tarique Rahman delivers closing speech at mausoleum as sovereignty procession ends, vows to protect sovereignty

The historic sovereignty procession organised in the capital on National Revolution and Solidarity Day concluded at the mausoleum of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. On Saturday (November 7) afternoon, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman himself led the procession on foot from Nayapaltan. In his closing speech, he called on everyone to pledge to protect the country's sovereignty and the people's democratic rights.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the procession at 3:15 pm from a temporary stage in front of the BNP central office. Earlier, a brief rally was held there from 2:45 pm to 3:10 pm.

At the pre-procession rally, the Prime Minister said they wanted to give a crushing reply once again, as in 1971, as in 1990, and as on November 7, 1975. He said today's November 7 revolution rally should be the day that fulfils that expectation, the day to protect Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty.

He added that it should also be the day to protect the democracy that the people of Bangladesh established by sacrificing their lives on August 5, 2024.

Addressing the leaders, activists and supporters present, the Prime Minister asked, are you with us? The leaders, activists and supporters responded with repeated applause in support of him.

After the inauguration, the procession passed the residence of the Chief Justice in Kakrail, went by Hotel InterContinental, Banglamotor, Farmgate and Manik Mia Avenue, and ended at the mausoleum in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

With lakhs of leaders, activists and supporters of the BNP and its affiliated organisations taking part, the procession turned into a sea of people. Amid slogans, the activists carried the red-and-green flag of Bangladesh and placards bearing pictures of the BNP's founder, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.

In his closing speech at the mausoleum, Tarique Rahman said that ever since independence, the forces that conspired against Bangladesh's freedom, sovereignty, people's rights, voting rights and freedom of speech had been defeated by the people. Once again, he said, they are trying to raise their heads with conspiracy.

The Prime Minister said, let us pledge on this National Revolution and Solidarity Day that at any cost we will protect our country's sovereignty and the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh. That should be the pledge of National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Speaking about National Revolution and Solidarity Day, the Prime Minister said November 7 is the day of national unity, the day to protect Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty, and the day of the Bangladeshi people's freedom of speech.

On the 2024 mass uprising, the head of government said the students and people of Bangladesh did not merely bring back independence and sovereignty; they drove the autocrats and conspirators out of the country. He added that just as the evil forces were defeated on November 7, 1975, they were defeated again on August 5, 2024, through a movement with the people's participation.

He said they are still engaged in conspiracy as before. They want to suppress Bangladesh's sovereignty once again, and they want to bring back a system of dummy elections. The people of a country that could bring about 1971, that could bring about the 1975 sepoy-people's revolution, and that could bring about the 2024 student-people's uprising cannot be suppressed by conspiracy, he said.

Accompanying the Prime Minister in the procession were BNP acting secretary general Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, standing committee member and adviser to the Prime Minister Mirza Abbas, standing committee member and finance and planning minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, standing committee member and social welfare and children affairs minister A Z M Zahid Hossain, Amanullah Aman and Farhad Halim Donar.

Also present were BNP vice chairman and liberation war affairs minister Ahmed Azam Khan, vice chairman and chief whip of the National Parliament Nurul Islam Moni, adviser to the BNP chairman and administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation Abdus Salam, joint secretary general and member of parliament Khairul Kabir Khokon, joint secretary general Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, treasurer and civil aviation and tourism minister Rashiduzzaman Millat, and publicity secretary and fisheries and livestock state minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku.

Leaders and activists of Dhaka metropolitan north and south BNP and various units of Dhaka division took part in the procession. The BNP is observing National Revolution and Solidarity Day without obstruction after a long 20 years. According to the party, propaganda and distortion of history surrounded the day under fascist rule, leaving the new generation in the dark about the events and historic significance of the day.