BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called for 5 August to be observed as a day of commitment to democracy, good governance, and humane values.
In a video message posted on Facebook this morning (Tuesday, August 5), he said, “Let every 5 August, from today and in the future, become a day of pledging to establish democracy, good governance, and humane values.”
Tarique Rahman said, “Exactly one year ago today, on this day in 2024, the fascist regime fled from Bangladesh. Bangladesh was liberated from their tyranny. For freedom-loving, democracy-loving people, this day is a day of joy, a day of victory. The interim government has declared this day of a liberated Bangladesh as ‘July People’s Uprising Day.’ The people of a sovereign Bangladesh will celebrate this day every year as a public holiday with joy and freedom. This will inspire a renewed commitment to freedom and democratic political rights.”
He said, “In 21st-century Bangladesh, the fugitive autocrat had established a reign of terror. Enforced disappearances, killings, abductions, attacks, false cases, torture, and repression had been normalized. During the movement against this fascism that lasted over one and a half decades, millions of leaders and activists of BNP and other pro-democracy parties and groups were subjected to hellish oppression. Due to hundreds of false cases, millions of opposition leaders and supporters were forced out of their homes. Many had their family ties severed.”
The Acting Chairman of BNP said, “To silence pro-democracy voices, secret detention centers called ‘Aynaghar’ (Mirror Houses) were set up across the country on the orders of the fugitive autocrat. In the dark cells of these Aynaghars, living people were kept confined for days, nights, and years. Many were made to disappear forever. BNP’s former MP Ilias Ali and Commissioner Chowdhury Alam are still missing.”
“The judiciary, Election Commission, and all other constitutional and statutory institutions were rendered ineffective. Ignoring the Constitution, people’s right to vote was snatched away, and the electoral system was turned into a farce. To permanently turn the country into a vassal state, all formalities of destroying the education system were nearly completed. Instead of books, pens, and notebooks, students were handed sticks, oars, hammers, and machetes in the name of politics.”
“The economy was devastated. Banks were bankrupted. 28 trillion Taka was laundered out of the country. Corruption, irregularities, tyranny, and plundering became the daily reality. A system of personal rule was established. However, the fascists could not secure their ultimate escape. People from all walks of life—students, farmers, workers, rickshaw pullers, day laborers, garment workers, hotel and restaurant workers, transport workers, journalists, intellectuals, cultural activists, housewives, women, and even our mothers—united and took to the streets during the people’s uprising of July-August. To suppress the uprising, people were shot dead from helicopters. Infants, martyrs like Abu Sayeed, Wasim, and Mugdha—our brave children—were gunned down and martyred.”
Tarique Rahman said, “More than 1,500 people were martyred in the people’s uprising of July-August 2024 alone. Students, farmers, workers, women, children, the elderly, journalists, laborers, professionals—none were spared from the fascists’ gunfire. At least 30,000 people were injured in this uprising. Hundreds of our sons, brothers, and sisters lost their limbs and became permanently disabled, or lost their eyesight and became blind for life.”
“That is why I say, 1971 was the war for achieving independence, and 2024 was the war to protect that independence. Bangladesh has not forgotten the martyred freedom fighters of 1971, and it will not forget the martyrs of the 2024 people’s uprising. From 1971 to today, at every turning point in the struggle for achieving and protecting the nation’s independence, resisting autocracy and fascism, and re-establishing democracy, hundreds of thousands of people have been martyred. On this day, I once again remember with respect the contributions of all martyrs. I pray to Almighty Allah for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
LND/SAE
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