Interim govt won't be let down, no comeback for fascism

A jubilant BNP march rocked Dhaka streets Friday in celebration of the National Revolution and Solidarity Day with exiled party leader Tarique Rahman asserting that there's no alternative to democracy and that fascism wouldn't be allowed for a comeback.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman urged the countrymen to keep a vigil so the interim government is not failed.

"Nothing but democracy will be accepted in Bangladesh. The fascism must not be allowed to come back in Bangladesh," he said virtually as the chief guest from London at a pre-march rally in front of the party's headquarters at Naya Paltan in the capital, Dhaka.

He sent in an alert message that "conspiracy is still going on against the interim government and the country despite the fall of the fascist Sheikh Hasina."

"Conspiracy against democracy and the interim government is ongoing. The collaborators of fascist are trying for failure of the interim government. We must fulfill public aspiration by cooperating with the interim government," he continued.

"No conspiracy against the country and the government will work if the nationalist forces remain united," he said to his slogan-chanting party faithful.

"Today's (Friday) rally is for democracy, sovereignty and building the country. BNP's aim is to establish people's voting right," he stated.

He expressed his belief that that the interim government would fulfill the aspiration of the people.

"The collaborators of fascist Sheikh Hasina are still active at different places," he said.

Felicitating BNP leaders and activists gathered in the mammoth rally Mr Tarique said, "This rally and procession are for establishing a Bangladesh free from discrimination and also ensure people's own rights".

About the historic November 7th he said, "The historic November 7 (National Revolution and Solidarity Day) was the day that has distinguished friends and foes of Bangladesh. Similarly, August 5 (2024) is the day to unite the nation."

Stressing the need for establishing people's franchise, the BNP acting chairman further said people must have their right to cast their vote from local bodies to parliamentary elections.

He said that the anti-democracy forces were active and called upon the countrymen to remain vigilant against it.

"This government (interim government) must not be allowed to fail. Let not this rally and procession to be failed," he added.

BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said BNP is the largest political party of Bangladesh. This party has saved democracy several times.

He deplored that Awami League had tortured BNP leaders and activists over the last 17 years.

"Many leaders and activists were killed during the fascist Awami League government. Sheikh Hasina has fled the country following student-mass uprising (on August 5, 2024)," he told the rally.

"The fascist Sheikh Hasina fled the country following student-mass movement on August 5, 2024. But the collaborators of Awami League are engaged in hatching different conspiracies against the country and the interim government. We must stay united for establishing democracy in the country by cooperating with the interim government," he said.

"We must remain vigilant to foil the conspiracy being hatched by those who want to destroy Bangladesh," he said.

"November 7 is the historic day for establishing democracy and multiparty democracy in Bangladesh. Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman introduced nationalist politics in the country. Party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has struggled for establishing democracy in the country and now acting chairman Tarique Rahman is guiding us," he the audience.

Publicity Secretary of BNP Sultan Salahuddin Tuku moderated the brief rally before bringing out colourful procession.

Earlier marking the grand rally, BNP leaders and activists from different wards of the capital and also from adjoining districts like Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Narayanganj and Gazipur thronged to the party's central office at Naya Paltan long before the event started.

After the rally over, BNP and its associate bodies' leaders and activists marched out in a colourful procession at 3:35 pm from Naya Paltan and terminated at Manik Mia Avenue peacefully after covering Kakrail-Nightingale intersection, Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar and Farmgate areas.

The BNP held rally on Friday (Nov 8) to avoid public sufferings due to traffic jams. But there were traffic jams in some areas due to the procession that BNP brought out after the rally.

BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing- committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, vice-chairmen Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Ahmed Azam Khan and Md Shahjahan, joint secretaries-general Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anie, Khairul Kabir Khokon and Abdus Salam Azad, Swechchasebak affairs secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Sopu, it's president SM Jilani, convener of Dhaka north BNP Aminul Islam and president of Krishak Dal Hasan Jafir Tuhin and other party leaders and activists took part in the procession.

By holding rally and bringing out procession on Friday the BNP leaderships hinted that they would remain on the streets until the restoration of democracy in the county.

Law-enforcing agencies' personnel were present to avert any untoward incident.

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