Fascist AL distorted history of Liberation War for petty party gains: Tarique Rahman
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the fascist Awami League (AL) distorted the history of Bangladesh's independence and Liberation War for their own petty party interests.
"A deposed and fugitive clique has distorted the history of independence and the Liberation War for their own petty party interests and has attempted to politicize history. As a continuation of this attempt, the defeated forces of the Liberation War are now trying to establish a new history of victory," he said.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking the Great Victory Day. BNP organized the event at the city’s Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the discussion while BNP Standing Committee members spoke.
Tarique Rahman asserted that attempts to question the independence and Liberation War have existed in the past and continue to this day.
"While the conspirators have changed their appearance over time, their character has not changed at all," he said.
He emphasized that Bangladesh is not a suddenly emerged territory; it was achieved through the supreme sacrifice of millions of martyrs and the honor of countless mothers and sisters.
He noted that numerous writings have documented the glorious history of this independence and Liberation War.
Regarding the path forward, Tareque Rahman outlined a vision, saying, "To counter the defeated clique, our Victory Day pledge should not be the politics of revenge or hostility; rather, it should be the establishment of a self-reliant, prosperous, and democratic Bangladesh with the aim of delivering the fruits of victory to every household."
He also stressed that independence and democracy cannot stand on a sustainable foundation without ensuring the political and economic empowerment of the people.
The BNP Acting Chairman said that whenever democracy has been threatened in the history of Bangladesh, independence and sovereignty have been simultaneously endangered. He cited the events of November 7, 1975, and August 5, 2024, as evidence of this.
He argued that the state machinery can never be strong by disempowering the people. "The prerequisite for a strong state is the establishment of a government accountable and responsible to the people, chosen through direct popular vote," he added.
Tareque Rahman reiterated that BNP has always taken a firm stance in favour of free, fair, and impartial elections. "However, a group acting against the interests of Bangladesh is creating obstacles to the conduct of elections under various pretexts," added the BNP’s top leader.
He mentioned that even after the Election Commission announced the date for the national election after more than a decade and a half, the conspiracy has not ceased.
Referring to the shooting of Osman Hadi, a courageous proponent of democracy, as part of the conspiracy, Tareque Rahman posed critical questions, "Who will be pleased if the interim government fails? Who will benefit if the government remains in power without an election? And whose interests will be protected if the government is not established by the people's vote?"
“The answers to these questions would clearly reveal the identity of the perpetrators,” he added.
He firmly asserted that the attempt to intimidate freedom-loving and democracy-seeking people will fail. He called on everyone to rely on Allah and unitedly advance the movement for establishing people's rights. He said that every movement, including 1971, November 7, 1975, and the anti-autocracy movement of the nineties, has proven that the people's victory cannot be stopped when they are united.
Regarding the upcoming national election, he stated, "This is no ordinary election; it is more complex and important than any previous elections. The aspirations, interests, and potential of the present and future generations, and above all, the question of Bangladesh's sovereignty, are linked to this election."
Tarique Rahman said that the next decade will be the decade of transformation. The BNP's goal is to build a self-reliant and prosperous Bangladesh by engaging the country’s half-female population, crores of youth, farmers, and working-class people. He expressed hope that this will make future Victory Days more glorious and meaningful.
During his speech, Tarique Rahman extended greetings for the Great Victory Day to people of all classes and professions, regardless of party affiliation, religion, or caste. He said, “The BNP is again seeking the cooperation and support of the people in the upcoming national election to deliver the fruits of victory to every home, rather than confining the message of victory merely to slogans."
He prayed for the salvation of the souls of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the July Uprising and the struggle for democracy and people's rights, and wished a swift recovery to the injured.