422 of 875 killed during student-mass uprising were from BNP: Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Sunday that a total of 875 people were killed during the July-August one-point student-mass uprising that led to the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, and of the total dead, 422 were BNP activists and supporters.

He disclosed the figures at a press briefing citing a report prepared by a human rights organisation on the casualties during the student-mass movement at the party chairperson's political office at Gulshan in the capital.

"This movement (against autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina) has not come suddenly, rather it was the outcome of oppression and suppression (on the opponents) and public resentments accumulated during the last many years. The outcome (victory against Sheikh Hasina) is the continuation of BNP's efforts to restore democracy (in the country). So, there is no scope to see lightly BNP's contribution to the recent anti-Sheikh Hasina movement," Mr Fakhrul said.

He said that the history behind the victory (against Sheikh Hasina) was linked with many people's untold stories of pains and sorrows, distraught mothers' call for returning their enforced disappearance victim sons and widows' crying for their husbands.

He added that the movement that unseated the Sheikh Hasina regime after long 16 years was the outcome of combined efforts with the contribution of toils and bloods of all.

Mr Fakhrul said that 422 BNP men were killed during the uprising against Sheikh Hasina in 2024 while 1,551 party men embraced martyrdom since 2009 until 2023, 423 BNP leaders became victims of enforced disappearance (a total of 700 enforced disappearance incidents happened that include all opposition political parties and general people) and a total of 0.15 million cases were filed against six million BNP leaders and activists.

"Those are not the only statistics of BNP's sacrifices (for restoring democracy in the country) but also a steadfast resolve of the party's continued efforts and its contribution towards gaining second liberation," he continued.

He expressed concern that speeches of some political party leaders might jeopardise the unity (among anti-Awami League political parties).

"No division, it should be our responsibility to keep unity among us," he maintained.

"The collaborators of fascist Sheikh Hasina are active to create unrest in industrial units and instigating on minority issues," he said while mentioning that conspiracy was still going on to foil the victory and student-mass movement.

He reaffirmed his party's continued support to the interim government and also stressed holding national election within a logical time after completing state reforms by Dr Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

Regarding International Day of Democracy (on September 15), he said, "History gave proof that the people of Bangladesh had to sacrifice and shed their bloods at different times for establishing democracy".

He said that BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman had returned multi-party democracy instead of one party BAKSAL rule and party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia contributed to reinstating parliamentary form of democracy in the country.

He said that it would be an injustice to the history if proper recognition was not given to those who irrespective of their political parties and belief had sacrificed their lives for bringing back democracy in the country.

BNP standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moin Khan and Salahuddin Ahmed were present, among others.

Meanwhile, BNP has shifted its Sunday's scheduled rally to tomorrow (Tuesday) due to inclement weather.

BNP standing committee member Dr A Z M Jahid Hossain announced it on Saturday night at a press briefing at the party chairperson's political office at Gulshan.

He said that his party would hold a rally at Nayapaltan on 17 September (Tuesday) marking International Day of Democracy.

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