The main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on Thursday made a fresh pledge to propel a mass upsurge in the country to force the ruling Awami League (AL) to accept its demand for holding the next general election under the non-party caretaker government (CG). “We’ve taken a fresh vow with the spirit of Sipahi-Janata Biplob of November 7, 1975,to go for a mass upsurge to meet our demand for election under the non-party government,” said the BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, after placing wreaths at the grave of shaheed president Ziaur Rahman in the capital.
Alamgir said the government has failed to protect the country’s sovereignty and democracy during its current tenure. The government has preached autocracy in the guise of democracy, he alleged.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her party’s several senior leaders and activists, went to the grave of the party founder to place wreaths.
The BNP has been observing this day as ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ since November 7, 1975, when soldiers and civilians jointly freed the then chief of army staff, Ziaur Rahman, from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the way for him to come to power.
Upholding the spirit of this day, Alamgir, also the opposition spokesperson, said, “The nationalist forces take fresh pledges on this day to weed out bad elements from the country.”
The main opposition has chalked out various programmes to observe the day across the country in a befitting manner. The party, along with its associate and front organisations, also observed the day with due respect.
The BNP hoisted its party flag at its central office in the city at 6 am, and party leaders and activists placed wreaths at the grave of former president Ziaur Rahman at 11 am.
Apart from this, BNP organised a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Thursday afternoon.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir greeted the people in separate messages on the occasion.
-With The Independent input
