Rizvi reaffirms BNP’s commitment to fulfilling promises to people.
BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has always stood by its commitment to the people and remains steadfast in fulfilling the promises it makes to them.
"BNP is moving forward holding high the flag of the ideals and philosophy with which Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman founded the party," he said.
He was speaking to journalists after paying tribute at the graves of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia marking the party’s 48th founding anniversary today.
Rizvi said, the great President of the country and Proclaimer of Independence Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman founded BNP with his own hands 48 years ago.
The party was established with a few commitments. Upholding those commitments, revolutionary programs for development and production were adopted, and initiatives were taken to make the nation self-reliant and self-sufficient in food.
He said that in education, culture, foreign policy, domestic policy and law and order, Shaheed Zia gave the state of Bangladesh a glorious dignity.
The BNP Acting Secretary General said, democracy has been repeatedly disrupted in the country. The brutal face of fascism has been witnessed.
During the period, people's freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to form political parties, and even freedom of movement have been compromised.
"Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman removed these terrifying situations and ensured civil liberties. It was Ziaur Rahman, who created the opportunity to continue the practice and exercise of multi-party democracy.
Since then, numerous political parties in Bangladesh were formed and opportunities for expressing opinions were created," he added.
Rizvi further said that after the formation of BAKSAL in 1975, newspapers were shut down. The fact that there are so many media outlets today and journalists are performing their duties is also a contribution of Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia.
"Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman established the Bangladesh Nationalist Party as an ideology-based party to accelerate his unprecedented contributions in various fields, including labor export and employment abroad.
BNP is moving forward carrying the flag of that policy, ideology, and philosophy," he said.
The veteran BNP leader further added that later, democracy was disrupted again through conspiracies and various designs.
Hussain Muhammad Ershad took power through martial law and once again stalled the political situation.
He said, "Standing against the thick darkness and martial law of that time, the companion of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, stateswoman Begum Khaleda Zia waged an uncompromising struggle for nine years to restore democracy.
She did not compromise with anyone and kept the promises and commitments made to the people. That is why BNP is a “party that keeps its promises and commitments to the people."
"Begum Khaleda Zia led the country and the party through various persecutions, oppressions, tyrannies, and terrible chaos.
Repeated attempts were made to defeat BNP and its leader through hegemonic powers and various national and international conspiracies.
But overcoming all shackles, oppression, and conspiracies, Begum Khaleda Zia ensured the victory of the people and the victory of democracy," he added.
Rizvi further said, she planted the flag of democracy deep into this soil. For this, she herself endured oppression, persecution, and torture.
She endured oppression for years in a broken prison. She was not provided medical treatment, and even the human rights that a normal prisoner should receive were denied. Yet she did not compromise.
He said that Begum Khaleda Zia was the main inspiration behind the movement against Sheikh Hasina. Even while she was imprisoned in a broken-down prison, her capable eldest son Tarique Rahman was performing his duties at that time.
