The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders think that the party has created an environment through its July Uprising remembrance programmes to support the people's desire of achieving multiparty democracy, reform, and justice of the July massacre.
They have said BNP is working to restore the democratic values, which fascist Sheikh Hasina destroyed by creating divisions among the political parties and society.
Youths are one of the major target groups of the remembrance events. The rally of Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal on Sunday was one of the events, organised to grab the attention of young voters, as they have become a key factor in the upcoming 13th parliament election.
BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman virtually addressed the huge gathering at Shahbag in the city as the chief guest. He sought the youth's first vote in favour of his party, and urged them to serve the country as a sacred duty.
BNP earlier declared a series of events from July 1 to August 6 for celebration and commemoration of the July Uprising. The 36-day programmes featured about 22 different events, including rallies, discussions, graffiti, street theatre, etc.
The inauguration event was a discussion at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital on July 1. BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia virtually spoke at the event as the chief guest, where representatives from the pro-July Uprising political parties, and families of those killed or injured during the uprising participated.
Khaleza Zia, in her speech, emphasised the unity of the pro-democratic political parties and fronts to keep fighting against the fallen fascist regime.
Mahdi Amin, adviser to the BNP acting chairman, recently talked to the FE about the party's stand, including its moves to unite the country and fight corruption.
"We want to return to the picture of the country that we saw during the July Movement, where all the political parties and others with their different views and beliefs participated in the protests against the fascist regime. We never asked about anyone's political or religious identity during the July Movement," he said.
"However, during the last 11 months, we've seen divisions among the fronts that fought together in the July Uprising. So, we believe that through these remembrance events of BNP we would meet the aspiration of a democratic and united Bangladesh."
"In the last three national elections, held under the Hasina administration, Bangladesh lost its democratic journey. However, we believe that in the next Bangladesh, there will be public engagement in the democratic process."
"There are differences among the political parties on their own agenda, and we are not worried about these. The differences are the beauty of democracy. We've fought during the last 15 years to speak about our differences without fear," Mahdi Amin noted.
"And, we have to be united regarding the fundamental values, like returning to democracy, rights to vote, freedoms of press and expression, etc, which the people enjoy in a true democratic society."
"It's been 11 months now - a long period of time. But we're yet to reach the final stage to sign a national chatter. If we have political commitment, we should have reached consensus much before," he added.
"Still, we have to keep in mind that we should not impose any decision on anyone. Then, it will be another form of authoritarian rule. There will be differences among the political parties on beliefs and actions."
Terming the BNP as the biggest victim of the last 16-year fascist rule, he noted, "We are upholding commitment of ensuring justice for the July massacre. It'll be BNP's top priority, if the party is elected in the next parliamentary election."
"We are calling on the government to launch more international crimes tribunals and mobilise more resources, as we see a slow progress in the process," he said, criticising the role of the authorities to ensure justice for the July victims.
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