Tarique Rahman Calls for Nationalist Unity in Spirit of November 7

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman issued a message on November 6, on the eve of "National Revolution and Solidarity Day" (marking November 7, 1975), urging all nationalist forces to unite.

Tarique Rahman called upon all nationalist forces to unite in the spirit of November 7 to build a strong democracy in Bangladesh and protect national independence and sovereignty. The BNP observes November 7 as the "soldier-people's revolution," the day in 1975 when soldiers and civilians jointly freed the then-Chief of Army Staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity.

According to Tarique, this event paved the way for Ziaur Rahman to assume power and establish the BNP. He described the event as not merely a turning point but the "genesis of anti-hegemonic nationalist politics" in the country, asserting that the revolution protected the nation's sovereignty and revived democracy. Tarique Rahman alleged that the ruling group after independence pushed the country into the "grip of hegemony" and killed democracy by forming the one-party BAKSAL rule.

He reiterated that Ziaur Rahman, the "Proclaimer of Independence," was imprisoned by "conspirators" on November 3, 1975, and was subsequently freed by the fearless soldiers and surging crowds on November 7.

He lamented the long-term imprisonment of his mother, Begum Khaleda Zia, and called for the establishment of justice, good governance, and the protection of people's fundamental human rights to achieve the ultimate practice of democracy.