The country's largest political party, BNP, has started a new journey after overcoming 17 years of struggle and crisis by ending the terrible misrule of the dictatorial Sheikh Hasina government. Today is the 46th anniversary of the party. Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP was founded on September 1, 1978 by Martyr President Ziaur Rahman, the advocate of multi-party democracy in Bangladesh. On this auspicious day of establishment, the party faces the challenge of establishing human rights including democracy. BNP leaders and workers are heaving a sigh of relief after a long time of self-sacrifice, oppression-torture, arrest-remand and harsh-suffering situation.
But a few days ago, they were suffering from extreme depression about their future of politics. A large number of leaders and activists of the party had to go to jail while making protest before the national elections. Many gave their lives, countless have been crippled. After this great sacrifice, the leaders and activists of the party are re-energized with renaissance.
Due to severe floods in the eastern part of the country, BNP has canceled this year's foundation anniversary program and has paid all the expenses for the program to the relief funds formed to assist the flood victims. Starting from BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, most of the senior leaders of the party's standing and central executive committee have been busy distributing relief to the distressed people in the flood affected areas including Cumilla, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur for several days. Acting Chairman of the party Tariq Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir gave separate messages on the occasion of the day. Congratulating the founding anniversary of the party, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told The Bangladesh Pratidin that BNP was born by returning ownership to the people of the country by introducing multi-party democracy. Those historical quote of the founder of BNP martyred President Ziaur Rahman are ideals of BNP leaders and workers as once he said, “People are the source of all power.”
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, greeting the partymen on the foundation anniversary and told The Bangladesh Pratidin, "We have been disciplined for so long. The people of the country, especially the leaders and activists of the BNP and other opposition parties, were outraged by the torture and oppression of the fascist and dictatorial Sheikh Hasina. Now after the fall of Hasina's dictatorship, I can breathe freely in a free environment. What could be more joy than that?”
He said that the strength of democracy is human rights, which Sheikh Hasina has taken away so far. Now the people of the country are free. BNP will be stronger organizationally in an unhindered environment. Good leadership will be created through open competition.
Advisor to BNP Chairperson and former MP Zahir Uddin Swapan on the occasion of anniversary day told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “Bangladesh is looking forward to the new possibility of establishing democracy after the long struggle against the terrible fascism and the blood of thousands of martyrs. The auspicious occasion of this year's founding anniversary is a feeling of victory on the one hand, and the challenge of meeting people's expectations on the other. We have to celebrate the 46th anniversary of our party. “
Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and leave the country on August 5 in the face of uprising of students and mass people. His downfall brought new life to BNP. Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia has already been released. Acting Chairperson Tariq Rahman is giving direction in the management of the team. All in all, the leaders and activists of the whole country have become stronger after overcoming the period of disappointment. The central office of Nayapaltan is buzzing with their presence. Those who have not been seen so far, now they are also crowding there. The closed party offices in different parts of the country including the central office in Dhaka have been opened. Leaders and activists are moving smoothly. After the fall of the government, mainly four issues are now the focus of BNP. These are— tracing the casualties of the movement and distribution of large-scale relief to those affected by the recent floods; Preparation for National Parliament Elections; Countering anarchy and conspiracies and maintaining stability in the country and strengthening organizational activities in unity. Acting Chairman Tariq Rahman has sent strict instructions to the leaders and activists at all levels from the center to the grassroots in this regard.
After the fall of the Awami League government in a mass uprising by students and people, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, formed by former President Ziaur Rahman, has returned to normal activities. The party has been out of power for the longest time in its 46 years of existence. After 16 long years, they’re now moving and doing political work in a free environment. Despite the organizational turnaround, the situation of the leaders and workers in the case is dire. However, they hope that the interim government will withdraw the political cases. Party's top chairperson Khaleda Zia has been released, but the leaders and activists are still not getting her by their sides. Acting Chairman Tariq Rahman is staying in London, but he is always in touch with the leaders and activists, and is also holding virtual meetings. In this situation, with the organizational arrangement of the party, the 'eye' is on the thirteenth national parliament elections. The party is moving forward with various plans for that. After August 5, the importance of BNP is increasing in all circles including the foreigners. Now the leaders of the party are desperate to retain the trust of the people. The policy makers believe that the main challenge of BNP is to establish democracy and hold free and fair national elections. They said that BNP has passed 46 years after many ups and downs. Now it wants to focus on energizing the people with the spirit of independence and sovereignty of the country. At the same time, they will also give reasonable time for holding fair elections in addition to assisting the government in reforming the state.
Today is the 46th founding anniversary of BNP. The party's foundation anniversary was supposed to be celebrated in a grand manner, but the program was curtailed due to floods. The party has given a one-day program. The money related to the clebration will be given to the flood victims. Late President Ziaur Rahman founded the party on this day in 1978. After Ziaur Rahman's death in 1981, his wife Khaleda Zia, the current chairperson, came into politics and took the reins of the party. She’s known as an uncompromising leader. BNP came to power three times after going through many ups and downs under her leadership.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 1 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
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