From Nayapaltan to Manik Mia Avenue: Tarique Rahman leads sovereignty procession on National Revolution and Solidarity Day

Nearly 20 years after the BNP returned to government under Tarique Rahman's leadership, the party celebrated 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' for the first time. At the inaugural ceremony of the BNP's 'Sovereignty' procession in Dhaka's Nayapaltan on Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman warned that any conspiracy from inside or outside the country would be answered with a crushing reply.

The prime minister said, 'No conspiracy can suppress the democracy-loving people of this country. Just as in 1971, just as in 1990, just as on 7 November 1975, we want to give a crushing reply once again.'

He then sought the support of the party workers, asking, 'Are you with us?' The workers and supporters answered in unison, 'We are,' applauding to show their support for the prime minister.

Tarique Rahman said, 'Let us, together with all the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh, answer every conspiracy one by one — whether it comes from inside the country or outside it. No conspiracy can keep the people suppressed.'

Referring to the historic significance of 7 November, the prime minister said the day is one of national unity, a day to protect the country's independence and sovereignty, and a day of people's freedom of speech. He added that this year's procession should be a pledge to protect the democracy that the people of the country established on 5 August 2024 by sacrificing their lives.

Party chief Tarique Rahman inaugurated the procession at a quarter past three in the afternoon from a stage built in front of the BNP central office. On the stage with him were standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, A Z M Zahid Hossain and acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

From noon, party workers began gathering in Nayapaltan in small processions for the programme. They carried the red-and-green flag of Bangladesh and placards bearing photographs of BNP founder and martyred president Ziaur Rahman, former prime minister Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Wearing caps and T-shirts of different colours, they joined the procession. With huge numbers of workers and supporters present, the gathering stretched from Kakrail crossing to Fakirapool crossing, packed with people.

Referring to the mass uprising of 2024, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that just as the evil forces were defeated on 7 November 1975, they were defeated in the same way on 5 August 2024 through the student-people uprising. The people of the country expelled autocracy from the country.

Tarique Rahman said, 'As in the past, they are still engaged in conspiracy. Once again they want to suppress Bangladesh's sovereignty. Once again they want to bring back the system of "ami-dummy" elections.' He said the people of a country that could bring about 1971, the sepoy-people's revolution of 1975 and the mass uprising of 2024 cannot be suppressed by conspiracy.

The prime minister then raised the slogans, 'Not Delhi, not Pindi, not any other country' and 'Bangladesh first, Bangladesh for all.'

After his brief speech, BNP chairman Tarique Rahman led the long procession on foot along with party leaders. The procession passed through Kakrail, Hare Road, the InterContinental crossing, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate and Bijoy Sarani before ending at Manik Mia Avenue. Along the route, workers and local people standing by the roadside greeted the prime minister, and he waved back in response.

With the prime minister in the rally were standing committee member and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Social Welfare Minister A Z M Zahid Hossain, acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, the prime minister's defence adviser A K M Shamsul Islam, cabinet members and party leaders.

At around half past four in the afternoon, after the procession ended, the prime minister gave a brief closing speech standing on a truck. He said that since independence, the forces that conspired against Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty, people's rights, voting rights and freedom of speech have been defeated by the people. Once again, they are trying to raise their heads with conspiracy.

On National Revolution and Solidarity Day, at half past eight in the morning, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid tribute at the graves of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. He placed flowers, stood silently for a while and recited Fatiha. He then paid tribute on behalf of the party along with senior BNP leaders, and took part in a special prayer seeking forgiveness for the souls of the two late leaders. Acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed and A Z M Zahid Hossain, Aman Ullah Aman, Farhad Halim, vice-chairman Ahmed Azam Khan, Nurul Islam and leaders of various levels were present.

There, acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi spoke to journalists. He said the spirit of 7 November was behind the July 2024 mass uprising. The people took to the streets in July with the resolve to protect independence and sovereignty and to ensure the continuation of multiparty democracy. Holding on to the spirit of 7 November, the people defeated the anti-democratic forces.

At noon, the prime minister addressed a grand rally of village police at the National Parade Ground in the capital. He reached the Parade Ground at around a quarter to twelve. The state news agency BSS reported that about 41,000 village police members from different districts and upazilas of the country took part in the rally.

From there, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman went to the Army Stadium in Banani for National Revolution and Solidarity Day, where he attended a colourful and impressive display with the participation of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), Bangladesh Scouts and various forces. The special display, organised under the supervision of the armed forces, featured 3,000 BNCC cadets and 500 Scouts. The prime minister's wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, along with advisers, members of parliament, representatives of various diplomatic missions, the chiefs of the three services, military and civilian officials and invited guests were present.

BSS reported that in his speech as chief guest, the prime minister expressed firm commitment to protecting independence, sovereignty and the rights of the people. He said that whenever Bangladesh has deviated from the spirit of 7 November, the country's independence and the sovereignty of its people have come under threat.