BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said they will become victorious soon together with people in their ongoing anti-government movement for the restoration of people’s voting and other rights.  “We’ve initiated the movement not to come to power as our goal is to turn Bangladesh into a truly modern welfare state so that people can get back their all rights. We also launched the movement to ensure justice, equality, and remove equality,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said they made good progress in their current movement. “The language we see in the eyes of ordinary people and their strong desire and determination give us inspiration and courage to move forward every day. I believe very soon we will win this struggle with the people of Bangladesh." Also Read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote 'Arpan Bangladesh', a voluntary organisation, arranged programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) in memory of the opposition leaders and activists who were killed recently in the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and demanding the unconditional release of the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The voluntary organisation also provided the family members of slain opposition leaders and activists with gifts ahead of Ramadan. Fakhrul said he joins the progarmmes for the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance and killing with a very heavy heart. “I have been attending such events for the last 15 years. “When I come to such programmes I feel sad and they (victims' families) also feel the same. But so far we have not been able to do much for them.” Pointing at the victims’ family members, he said, “You have lost husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. The history of human civilization says that such supreme sacrifice will never go in vain. Their blood and the tears of their mothers can never go in vain.” Also Read: BNP delegation attends dinner hosted by Indian envoy Fakhrul said they liberated the country by waging a war against the Pakistani occupation forces as they snatched the rights of people, destroyed democracy, and denied handing over power to an elected government. “We also fought to get a democratic Bangladesh. “We won that battle. Unfortunately, we are again fighting and giving our lives to get that democracy back.” He said freedom fighters never imagined a Bangladesh where there is no human dignity, security of life, freedom of expression, voting rights, and justice. Fakhrul said the lawyers who were subjected to attacks went to the Chief Justice on Thursday seeking his initiative to resolve the problem that emerged over the Supreme Court Bar Association. "He (Chief Justices) told them he would do if he has any option to do anything. Then, where will we go, to whom will we go, and where will the people of the country go?    

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Monday said their party will forge a strong 'anti-government unity' to intensify the movement for the restoration of democracy in the country. "We believe we all together can bring back  democracy.  Inshallah, democracy will be restored in Bangladesh," he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said those who want democracy will join the ongoing movement by BNP for establishing people's voting rights. "We'll unite with all those who aren’t  beneficiaries of the government and don't  think about personal gains and with those organisations, and parties who love Bangladesh. We'll fight with all of them together for the restoration of democracy," he said. The pro-BNP student leaders of Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) and All- Party Students Unity (APSU) of the '90s organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 'Autocracy Resistance Day'. READ: Joy shares video report on ‘BNP’s money laundering’  On February 14, 1983,  at least 10 people, mostly students, were killed during an anti-autocracy protest in the capital, demanding the cancellation of Mazid Khan Education Commission report, barely a year after military dictator HM Ershad came to power. Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said their party wants a Bangladesh where  development activities will be carried out for the betterment and benefits of people, not for the benefits of some individuals and a certain quarter. "We want a Bangladesh where people have the right to speak and get justice and cast votes freely." They said people of all walks of life must carry out a strong fight like the anti-autocracy movement in the '90s to restore democracy and people's lost rights, and build Bangladesh in line with the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War. Recalling the student's role in the anti-Ershad moment, he paid homage to the memories of those who sacrificed their lives on this day in 1983. READ: 49 BNP activists land in jail for vandalising police vehicle in Tangail Nazrul said thier party chairperson Khaleda Zia, led different movements for the restoring democracy and people's rights. "But she's now confined to a jail. She's also very ill. So, it's our responsibility now to restore democracy and people's voting and other rights, and materealise the dreams of our party founder Ziaur Rahman." He also called upon the students to be more active in the ongoing movement for restoration of democracy.