Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today called on democracy-loving people at home and abroad to stay united against conspiracies aimed at undermining the country, describing November 7 as a day of national unity and of protecting Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty.
He made the remarks at a brief gathering in the capital’s Nayapaltan area this afternoon, before joining a huge public rally in front of the BNP central office. November 7, he said, is also the day of the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.
The prime minister warned that conspiracies were being hatched against the country once again, but said no plot could keep the democratic people down. He said Bangladesh wanted to give a stern reply as it had in 1971, in 1990 and on November 7, 1975, and that the day’s rally should be the day to fulfil that expectation. He also said it should be a day to protect the democracy people established with their lives on August 5, 2024.
Tarique urged people to face every conspiracy, whether it came from inside or outside the country, with one united answer together with all democracy-loving Bangladeshis.
Reminding the gathering that people had defeated such forces before, he said students and people achieved more than just restoring the country’s independence and sovereignty. The people drove out that autocracy and its conspirators, he said. The same force was defeated on November 7, 1975, and again on August 5, 2024, through a movement of people from all walks of life.
He, however, warned that a group was again engaged in conspiracies, as in the past, to undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty and bring back the “Ami-Dummy” election system. “This opportunity will not be given again,” he said. A nation that brought about 1971, the Sepoy-People’s Revolution of 1975 and the Student-People’s Mass Uprising of 2024 could not be suppressed through conspiracies, he added.
Midway through the speech, the prime minister led the gathering in a slogan: “Not Delhi, not Pindi, not any other country. Bangladesh first, Bangladesh for all.” He then said, “Let us begin our revolution today.”
BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed and AZM Zahid Hossain, and Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, were present.
Party activists began arriving at Nayapaltan in small processions from around noon. By afternoon, thousands of leaders and activists had gathered in the area from Kakrail intersection to Fakirerpul intersection. Many carried the national flag and placards bearing photos of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, and wore caps and T-shirts of different colours.
After the speech, the prime minister joined the rally on foot and exchanged greetings with people along the route. Cabinet members and party leaders from different levels walked with him. He reached Manik Mia Avenue at 4:30pm and gave a concluding speech there.
