The BNP will hold rallies in Dhaka and across the country on November 7 to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day. The party and its associate bodies will also hoist flags at party offices, pay tribute at the graves of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and hold discussion meetings, publish posters, and organise a drawing competition and an art exhibition.
BNP acting secretary general Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme to journalists on Monday (October 26) after a joint meeting on National Revolution and Solidarity Day at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka.
Rizvi said the draft programme had been drawn up on the basis of the views of leaders of the BNP and its associate bodies. Flags will be hoisted at party offices in Dhaka and across the country at 6am on November 7, followed by a colourful central rally in Dhaka. Instructions will be given to hold rallies at district and upazila level as well.
He said party leaders will pay tribute, lay wreaths and offer Fateha at the graves of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia at 11am that day. Associate bodies will publish posters and hold discussion meetings, and Chhatra Dal will organise a drawing competition and an art exhibition. The discussion meeting has been tentatively set for November 6.
The BNP acting secretary general said November 7 is an important day in the country’s history, and its spirit is the spirit of protecting independence, sovereignty and democracy. Before 1975, political conflict and uncertainty had created a desire for change among the people, and the revolution of November 7 took place against that background, he said.
According to Rizvi, multi-party democracy, freedom of expression and press freedom returned to the country after November 7. After that day, martyred President Ziaur Rahman rose to the centre of national politics and state power.
Referring to the declaration of independence from Kalurghat in 1971, he said Ziaur Rahman gave the nation direction at a time of crisis.
Rizvi also said that after BAKSAL was established on January 25, 1975, all but four newspapers were shut down, leaving many journalists out of work. Newspapers and political parties later got the chance to operate again.
Referring to the July movement, Rizvi said the revolutionary spirit of November 7 had influenced it. Students, workers and ordinary people joined the movement together, and through it fascism fell on August 5 and the path to democracy opened again, he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report