BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has pledged to establish a dedicated department within the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to support the victims of the 2024 July Uprising if the party is voted to power in the upcoming February 12 election.
Speaking at a dialogue with the families of the martyrs and the injured at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh today (18 January), Tarique Rahman emphasized that the state must take responsibility for those who protected the nation's sovereignty.
"In the July Uprising alone, over 1,500 people were martyred and nearly 30,000 injured. This was a mass killing," he said. He likened the 2024 protesters to the 1971 freedom fighters, noting that while the former achieved independence, the latter saved it.
Tarique announced that the proposed department would ensure advanced medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation for the disabled, and financial security for the families of the deceased. He reminded the audience that the BNP government under Begum Khaleda Zia had previously established the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs in 2001 to honor 1971 veterans.
Highlighting the importance of the upcoming polls, he urged the nation to focus on "writing the victory song of democracy" rather than endless mourning. "The aim of the uprising was to secure political and economic rights for every citizen, regardless of party or religion," he added.
The event was chaired by BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, with senior leaders including Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in attendance.
