BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on the democratic forces of the country to remain united so that the forces defeated in the mass uprising of the students and the people on August 5 do not rise again.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the Fall of Dictatorship Day on December 6, Tarique Rahman made this call on Thursday on social media Facebook.
In the statement, Tarique Rahman said, "December 6 is an unforgettable day in our national history. On this day in 1990, the dictatorship fell after a long 9-year bloodbath movement.
“Ershad broke his professional loyalty and oath on March 24, 1982 and ousted the elected President Justice Sattar at gunpoint, thereby destroying democracy and imposing martial law. The constitutional politics that was multi-party and multi-dimensional, which was initiated by the great proclaimer of independence, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, has been shattered.
“The dictator Hossain Mohammad Ershad turned democratic institutions to rubble. In the continuation of the mass movement led by the uncompromising national leader Begum Khaleda Zia for nine years, democracy was liberated on December 6, 1990, by defeating the dictatorship with the combined strength of the students and the people. With the spirit of that achieved democracy, the students and the public once again defeated a violent fascist force on August 5, 2024,” he said.
The BNP leader said, “The fascist Awami League was a terrible enemy for democracy. After the end of the tyranny of the fascist Sheikh Hasina, we must continue our relentless struggle to completely revive democracy and establish democratic values in the state and society. During the tyranny of Sheikh Hasina, the 'Mother of Democracy', the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, was subjected to various forms of oppression, including imprisonment and torture. Millions of leaders and activists of the country's nationalist forces were held captive in the hands of of tyranny and torture. The entire country was turned into a suffocating prison.”
“On this day, I pay my deepest respect to the memory of the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the bloody anti-dictatorship movement from 1982 to 1990 and pray for the forgiveness of their souls. On this memorable day of the restoration of democracy, I extend my greetings and congratulations to the countrymen who participated in the anti-dictatorship movement and safeguarded democracy,” he added.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
