BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday urged his party leaders and activists to prepare for 'more sacrifices' for making the current pro-democracy movement a success by ousting the Awami League government. Speaking at a discussion here he also said they will not retreat from the street agitation until their goal is achieved.   "Our one point demand is the resignation of the government and Sheikh Hasina,” the BNP leader said. He said the state power has to be handed over to a caretaker government and then an election must be conducted under a new Election Commission so the country gets a genuinely elected government of the people. "We have already sacrificed a lot.  Many of us are being arrested, jailed, and killed. We have to make more sacrifices,” Fakhrul told BNP rank and file. He said their party leaders and activists will have to move forward by making sacrifices to get back democracy, and people’s rights and protect the country’s independence. Read more: Police–BNP clash in Kishoreganj: 29 including 11 cops hurt “Let us take the oath on November 7 that we won’t go back home from the streets without achieving our goals, ensuring the fall of this government, restoring democracy and people's rights,” the BNP leader said.  BNP arranged the discussion in front of its Nayapaltan central office, marking what the party said the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day'. Amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment on 7 November 1975, paving the way for his coming to power. BNP has long been observing the day as the National Revolution and Solidarity Day’. The BNP leader said November 7 is a very significant day for the nation as the country’s independence was consolidated for the second time on this day in 1975. “Soldiers and mass people created a new history by freeing proclaimer of independence Ziaur Rahman from captivity through their unprecedented revolution on this day.” He said this revolution also paved a new chapter of a truly democratic, happy and prosperous Bangladesh. “Our leader Ziaur Rahman united the entire undivided nation in just four years.” Fakhrul said Zia Introduced a free economy and multi-party democracy removing one-party rule, and restoring freedom of speech, freedom of expression, rights to freedom of assembly, and all fundamental rights in the country. He said Zia also showed the nation a new dream in a short period of time to stand as a strong nation. Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said Ziaur Rahman restored democracy and people’s rights by freeing the nation from one-party Baksal rule. Also read: Sylhet BNP politician stabbed to death “Awami League now again created a Baksal-like situation in the country by snatching people’s all rights and annihilating democracy.  So, we take a vow on this day being imbued with the spirit of November 7 to restore democracy by ousting those who established Baksal.” Earlier in the day, senior BNP leaders and activists, led by Mirza Fakhrul, placed a wreath at Zia’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar around 11am. They also offered fateha there and a munajat seeking salvation of Zia’s departed soul. While BNP and its alliance partners celebrate November 7 as the National Revolution and Solidarity Day, the ruling Awami League and its front organisations consider it as the day of ‘Killing of freedom fighters”.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said the demand of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for bringing democracy back frightens the people of the country. “Because, the terrible fire violence they carried out on the people in the name of the movement to bring back democracy is still fresh in the minds of the people,” he said in a statement sent to the media. Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridge Minister, protested and condemned the ‘regular false, baseless and fabricated’ remarks of Fakhrul. Also read: AL won’t be allowed to retain power by’rigging’ votes again: Mintoo He said Fakhrul is committing the crime of violating the constitution by calling the present government, which is constitutionally valid and elected by the votes of the people, as an illegal government frequently. Quader said the AL, manifested in the spirit of the Great War of Liberation, is determined to strengthen the democratic values of this country. Democracy has not been lost in the country and so, it doesn’t need to be restored, he said. Rather, all the activities of the BNP have been running against the democratic values since its formation. BNP had formed not only by the destruction of democracy but also by spoiling the spirit of the great Liberation War, said the AL general secretary. He said Fakhrul is making ill-attempt to raise hollow voice in politics by talking about the ‘fictitious cases’. “During the tenure of the present government, the law enforcement agencies of the country did not file any fictitious case against anyone,” said Quader. While in power, BNP was identified as a political party alienated from the people due to its anti-people stance by spreading corruption and boasting of power, he said. Also read: AL in favour of using EVMs in national election: Quader He further said that the democracy of Bangladesh stands on a solid foundation under the leadership of successful statesman Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina. All the activities of the Awami League government are being run reflecting the aspirations of the people through which the rule of the people and the democratic journey is moving forward, he said. “No conspiracy of any evil force can obstruct the progress of Bangladesh. Under the leadership of the daughter of Bangabandhu, we’ll be able to build the country as a happy, prosperous, developed and welfare state for the next generations,” said Quader.

 

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said their party followers have taken a vow on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day to ‘restore’ democracy in Bangladesh. "InshAllah, we’ll establish democracy as it was the main spirit of the Liberation War, and we’ve taken th