Spirit of November 7 Inspired July 2024 Mass Uprising: Rizvi

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that the spirit of November 7 was behind the July mass uprising of 2024. He said the people of the country took part in the July movement with a firm promise to protect independence and sovereignty and continue multi-party democracy.

He made these remarks yesterday, Saturday, after paying tribute at the graves of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on the occasion of National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Mr. Rizvi said a people’s government had been formed under the leadership of Tarique Rahman through a free and fair election. He is working to fulfil his election promises. The BNP government is carrying out various programmes, including Family Cards, canal digging and tree planting.

He said the government that came to power in 2009 again took away people’s rights. The country was pushed towards severe fascism. A culture of enforced disappearances, killings and secret murders was created. People could not speak freely because of fear. They were even afraid to move around on the streets.

In this situation, students, ordinary people and workers took to the streets in July 2024. Through a mass uprising, they forced Sheikh Hasina to step down on August 5.

Mr. Rizvi said the spirit of November 7 includes protecting independence and sovereignty and continuing multi-party democracy. The people of the country had defeated anti-democratic forces by following this spirit.

He said Bangladesh regained multi-party democracy under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Through his different programmes, the country moved forward in development and production. Canal digging, self-reliance programmes, food self-sufficiency and literacy campaigns gave the nation a chance to stand on its own feet. Bangladesh also gained respect as a country in the international arena.

He said Bangladesh would not fall under the control of any dominant power. Through the November 7 revolution and the events that followed, the people found the determination to protect democracy and independence and strengthen the country’s sovereignty.

Mr. Rizvi said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and his family were arrested and kept at their house in the Cantonment Board area on November 3. He was later released. This gave the nation a new direction.

He said local and international conspirators did not stop their activities. A great nationalist and patriotic leader of the country was later killed at the Chattogram Circuit House.

However, the nation stood up again and again with the spirit of November 7. This spirit stood for freedom, democracy, the protection of independence and stronger sovereignty.

He said democracy returned to the country in 1990 after a strong nine-year movement against autocratic ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad. The movement was led by Begum Khaleda Zia, wife of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and a leader known for her firm stand on democracy.

Mr. Rizvi said the spirit of November 7 later inspired students and ordinary people to join movements. In 2009, a new form of the old BAKSAL system appeared. The defeated forces came to power, took away people’s rights and pushed the country towards severe fascism.

Among those present were BNP Standing Committee member and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; Standing Committee member and Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury; Standing Committee member and Social Welfare Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain; Standing Committee member and Prime Minister’s Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan; BNP Vice-Chairman and Chief Whip of Parliament Md Nurul Islam Moni; State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque; and BNP Publicity Secretary and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.

Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam were also present.

Later, the BNP organised a rally titled ‘Sovereignty’ to mark the historic National Revolution and Solidarity Day on November 7. Before the rally began, BNP Secretary General spoke at a brief gathering.

He said the day was important for protecting personal freedom, civil rights and freedom of movement. He said November 7 was a historic day for protecting the country’s independence.

“Today is a very joyful day for us. Through many struggles and movements, the soldiers and people united under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman on this day and protected the country’s independence and sovereignty,” he said.

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the programme as the chief guest.

Those present at the gathering included BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Salahuddin Ahmed, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Md Aman Ullah Aman, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and Dr Farhad Halim Donar.

Also present were BNP Vice-Chairman and Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan; Vice-Chairman and Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni; BNP Chairman’s Adviser and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam; BNP Joint Secretary General and MP Khairul Kabir Khokon; Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel; Treasurer and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat; and Publicity Secretary and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.

Leaders and activists of Dhaka North and South BNP and different units of the party across Dhaka Division also attended the gathering.