Wednesday, 17 December, 2025
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has accused the Awami League (AL) of deliberately distorting the history of Bangladesh’s independence and Liberation War to serve its own narrow political interests.
“A deposed and fugitive clique has manipulated the narrative of independence and the Liberation War for petty party gains and attempted to politicise history. Continuing this effort, the defeated forces of the Liberation War are now trying to rewrite the history of victory,” he said Monday while addressing a discussion marking the Great Victory Day, organised by BNP at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the session, with several BNP Standing Committee members also speaking.
Highlighting the ongoing attempts to undermine Bangladesh’s independence, he said, “While the conspirators have changed their appearance over time, their character remains unchanged.”
He emphasised that Bangladesh did not emerge overnight but was forged through the supreme sacrifices of millions of martyrs and the honourable contributions of countless mothers and sisters.
Tarique Rahman urged the nation to look ahead, outlining a vision for the future. “Our Victory Day pledge should not be a politics of revenge or hostility. It must be about building a self-reliant, prosperous, and democratic Bangladesh, delivering the fruits of victory to every household,” he said.
He stressed that political and economic empowerment of the people is essential for sustaining independence and democracy.
Citing historical precedents, he warned that whenever democracy has been threatened in Bangladesh, independence and sovereignty have been endangered, referencing the events of 7 November 1975 and 5 August 2024. “A strong state cannot be built by disempowering the people. True strength comes from a government accountable to the citizens and chosen through direct popular vote,” he added.
Reaffirming BNP’s commitment to free, fair, and impartial elections, Tarique Rahman accused anti-democratic forces of obstructing the electoral process under various pretexts, even after the Election Commission announced the long-awaited date for national polls.
He cited the shooting of democracy activist Osman Hadi as part of these ongoing conspiracies and posed critical questions: “Who benefits if the interim government fails? Who gains if elections are postponed? Whose interests are protected if the government is not established by the people’s vote?”
He asserted that efforts to intimidate freedom-loving and democracy-seeking citizens will fail. “When united, the people’s victory is unstoppable, as proven by the movements of 1971, November 1975, and the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s,” he said.
Regarding the upcoming national election, Tarique Rahman described it as “no ordinary vote,” stressing that the nation’s sovereignty and the future of generations hinge upon it.
He called for the mobilisation of youth, women, farmers, and working-class citizens to transform Bangladesh into a self-reliant and prosperous country, making future Victory Days even more meaningful.
Concluding his address, Tarique Rahman extended greetings on the Great Victory Day to all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or caste.
“The BNP seeks the cooperation and support of the people in the upcoming national election to deliver the fruits of victory to every home, not merely confine it to slogans,” he said.
He also prayed for the salvation of the martyrs of 1971, the July Uprising, and all struggles for democracy and the rights of the people, while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured in the ongoing fight for justice.
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BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has accused the Awami League (AL) of deliberately distorting the history of Bangladesh’s independence and Liberation War to serve its own narrow political interests.
“A deposed and fugitive clique has manipulated the narrative of independence and the Liberation War for petty party gains and attempted to politicise history. Continuing this effort, the defeated forces of the Liberation War are now trying to rewrite the history of victory,” he said Monday while addressing a discussion marking the Great Victory Day, organised by BNP at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the session, with several BNP Standing Committee members also speaking.
Highlighting the ongoing attempts to undermine Bangladesh’s independence, he said, “While the conspirators have changed their appearance over time, their character remains unchanged.”
He emphasised that Bangladesh did not emerge overnight but was forged through the supreme sacrifices of millions of martyrs and the honourable contributions of countless mothers and sisters.
Tarique Rahman urged the nation to look ahead, outlining a vision for the future. “Our Victory Day pledge should not be a politics of revenge or hostility. It must be about building a self-reliant, prosperous, and democratic Bangladesh, delivering the fruits of victory to every household,” he said.
He stressed that political and economic empowerment of the people is essential for sustaining independence and democracy.
Citing historical precedents, he warned that whenever democracy has been threatened in Bangladesh, independence and sovereignty have been endangered, referencing the events of 7 November 1975 and 5 August 2024. “A strong state cannot be built by disempowering the people. True strength comes from a government accountable to the citizens and chosen through direct popular vote,” he added.
Reaffirming BNP’s commitment to free, fair, and impartial elections, Tarique Rahman accused anti-democratic forces of obstructing the electoral process under various pretexts, even after the Election Commission announced the long-awaited date for national polls.
He cited the shooting of democracy activist Osman Hadi as part of these ongoing conspiracies and posed critical questions: “Who benefits if the interim government fails? Who gains if elections are postponed? Whose interests are protected if the government is not established by the people’s vote?”
He asserted that efforts to intimidate freedom-loving and democracy-seeking citizens will fail. “When united, the people’s victory is unstoppable, as proven by the movements of 1971, November 1975, and the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s,” he said.
Regarding the upcoming national election, Tarique Rahman described it as “no ordinary vote,” stressing that the nation’s sovereignty and the future of generations hinge upon it.
He called for the mobilisation of youth, women, farmers, and working-class citizens to transform Bangladesh into a self-reliant and prosperous country, making future Victory Days even more meaningful.
Concluding his address, Tarique Rahman extended greetings on the Great Victory Day to all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or caste.
“The BNP seeks the cooperation and support of the people in the upcoming national election to deliver the fruits of victory to every home, not merely confine it to slogans,” he said.
He also prayed for the salvation of the martyrs of 1971, the July Uprising, and all struggles for democracy and the rights of the people, while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured in the ongoing fight for justice.
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