Tarique Rahman greets nation on BNP’s 48th founding anniversary

Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman has extended greetings and congratulations to party leaders and activists at all levels, well-wishers and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the BNP’s 48th founding anniversary.

He conveyed the greetings in a status posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday evening (31 August).

Describing the BNP as the country’s most popular political party, Tarique Rahman said, “On the occasion of the 48th founding anniversary of the party, marked by courage, struggle, sacrifice and success, I extend my greetings and congratulations to party leaders and activists at all levels, well-wishers and the people of the country. Today is a day of joy, enthusiasm and inspiration for the people of Bangladesh.”

He said BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, whom he described as the proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence, founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on this day in 1978 at an open venue at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka, at the Ramna Restaurant premises.

“The founding of the BNP was a landmark event in the history of restoring democracy in Bangladesh,” he said.

He added that a one-party system, known as Baksal, was established on 25 January 1975, closing the path to freedom of speech, individual liberty and democracy. “After assuming responsibility for running the state, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman first restored democracy in the country,” he said.

The prime minister said the BNP was established as a new political party in response to the needs of the time, following the restoration of the right of banned political parties to engage in politics. As a result, he said, Bangladesh embarked on a new journey toward pluralistic democracy.

“On this glorious founding anniversary of the BNP, I respectfully remember Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the great proclaimer of independence, a successful statesman and the architect of modern Bangladesh,” he said.

Tarique also paid tribute to former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. “On this founding anniversary, I respectfully remember former prime minister and BNP chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia, who, through her charismatic personality and leadership, took the BNP to every household in Bangladesh,” he said.

He said the BNP had played and continued to play the role of a vigilant guardian not only in establishing democracy and good governance but also in protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty with the people.

“Whenever the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy have come under threat, BNP leaders, activists and supporters have selflessly sacrificed their lives alongside the pro-democracy people,” he said.

“I deeply remember with respect the contributions of BNP leaders and activists at all levels who have sacrificed their lives or suffered injuries in the struggle to establish democracy and good governance in the country since the founding of the BNP,” he added.

Highlighting the BNP’s record in government, Tarique Rahman said the party had been given the opportunity to govern the country whenever people had been able to vote freely, fairly and without fear in elections.

He said various important initiatives had been taken by BNP governments during their different terms in office to strengthen and institutionalise democracy, including the restoration of parliamentary democracy and the expansion of women’s education.

“Through the BNP’s efforts and initiatives to uphold democracy and achieve economic prosperity, the party has become the most popular political party among the people of the country,” he said.

He said that after the end of what he described as a “one-and-a-half-decade fascist rule and exploitation,” the people had once again entrusted the BNP with the responsibility of governing the country through a free, fair and impartial election.

“The BNP wants to repay the people’s love by establishing an accountable state,” he said.

“With that goal, the BNP government is working tirelessly to establish Bangladesh as a welfare state,” he added.

Tarique expressed confidence that, while maintaining the trust and confidence of the people, every BNP leader, activist and supporter would continue to play a strong role in serving the motherland in the days ahead.

“InshaAllah,” he said.

He further said the BNP believed that the pro-democracy people of the country were the source of all of the party’s political power.

“The BNP is another name for the struggle to build a welfare-oriented, democratic and self-reliant Bangladesh,” he said.

Concluding his message, Tarique Rahman once again extended greetings on the BNP’s founding anniversary to the people of Bangladesh who believe in democracy and cherish the country’s independence.