Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday evening said the main aim of BNP is now to reestablish the trend of the multiparty democracy in the country again.
"The BNP's main goal is now to restore the trend of multiparty democracy in the country to ensure the people's rights, mitigate their sufferings and safeguard the country's independence and sovereignty," he said this in a message on the eve of BNP's 46th founding anniversary.
Greeting the party leaders and activists at all levels, well-wishers and the countrymen marking, Tarique Rahman said, "Tomorrow (September 1) is a day of joy, enthusiasm, and inspiration for the people of Bangladesh. On this auspicious day in 1978, declarer of the country's independence and former President Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam established the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)".
Noting that the democracy was killed through the BAKSAL system solely for the purpose of grabbing absolute power, he said, "Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman revived that dead democracy. The journey of multiparty democracy in Bangladesh began once again".
BNP founded by Shaheed Zia has come to power several times in the past 46 years through fair elections with the participation of all and has been working for the prosperity and welfare of the country and its people, Tarique Rahman added.
"I express my deep respect to the great declarer of the independence, successful statesman and architect of modern Bangladesh Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam," the BNP acting chairman said.
He added: "Our beloved party has played the role of vanguard in safeguarding the country's independence and sovereignty. Many leaders and activists have sacrificed their lives without hesitation to restore the exiled democracy".
The uncompromising stance of BNP under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia during the 1980s movement against nine years of military dictatorship is a shining chapter in history, the BNP acting chairman said, adding, her pioneering role led to the restoration of the democracy.
"I offer my respectful salute to Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia," he said.
To strengthen and institutionalize the democracy in Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman said, BNP being elected in 1991 reintroduced parliamentary democracy through a constitutional amendment during its tenure.
"This effort was led by Begum Khaleda Zia, who is regarded as a unique symbol of democracy," he said, adding, BNP's strong role in promoting and flourishing the multiparty democracy in the country along with its contributions to the country's development has always been appreciated by the people.
As a result of BNP's dedication and initiatives to uphold the democracy and achieve economic prosperity, the party has now emerged as the most popular political party in the country, the BNP acting chairman said.
By maintaining the people's trust and confidence, the BNP will continue to play a strong role in serving the nation with utmost dedication, he added.
Tarique Rahman paid deep respect to those party men who died from the beginning of the party's inception until now.
He also paid tribute to those who were killed during the 15-year ruthless ruling of Awami fascism and the recent bloody student-people protests and those who died in the recent floods in the country's eastern region.
"This is the high time to bring democracy back from exile. Only ensuring the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the independence of the press and judiciary can make the sacrifices of the martyrs in the nearly two-decade-long democratic struggle truly meaningful," the BNP acting chairman said.
He said, "On the auspicious occasion of the party's founding anniversary, our commitment should be to build Bangladesh as a nation free from oppression, brutality, and all forms of cruelty, where citizens' rights are protected and peace prevails".
Enforced disappearances, secret killings, extrajudicial killings, torture against women and children, terrorism, extortion, corruption, and money laundering should never repeat in the country again, Tarique Rahman added.
Due to the devastating floods in the country's eastern region, he said, the BNP's five-day programme marking its 46th founding anniversary has been shortened to one day.
As a party of the people, BNP's most important task at this moment is to provide assistance to those people, who are affected and marooned by the floods, BNP acting chairman said and urged all party leaders and activists to stand by the flood victims until they are fully rehabilitated.
Bd pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
