BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon people from all walks of life to extend their helping hands to those affected during the recent student-led mass movement, reports UNB.
He made the comments while speaking virtually at a wheelchair distribution programme, organised by 'Amra BNP Poribar' at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Monday.
Wheelchairs were distributed among 10 people who were maimed during the recent student movement against Sheikh Hasina's autocratic regime.
He also said if BNP can form a government with public support, different institutions and establishments across the country will be named after the martyrs.
"I call upon every person in society to come forward to help the people affected by the movement according to their ability," he said.
Tarique said a large number of people were affected in various ways over the 17 years of struggle at different stages for the restoration of the people's rights and democracy.
"The country has now been freed from autocracy. To achieve this, many people across Bangladesh, regardless of their political affiliation or opinions, were affected in numerous ways," he said.
The BNP leader said it is the responsibility of everyone to support the families of those who were martyred, as well as those who were injured or affected in various ways in the struggle to free the country from fascism.
"It is our duty, regardless of political identities or opinions, to offer our support to them and their families to the best of our ability, so that those of us who remain alive can live in freedom," Tarique said.
He also said if BNP returns to power, it will take all necessary steps to ensure better treatment for the injured and maimed individuals, provide rehabilitation, and support the families of the martyrs.
"If BNP forms the government, we will propose that various state institutions established across the country be named after the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to end autocracy. This will ensure that the names of these heroes are never forgotten," Tarique said.
He said BNP is also committed to helping all the maimed individuals, including the victims of the movement, across the country, with the goal of making them self-reliant rather than a burden on their families.
"Beyond the movement, there are many people in society who have become disabled, either by birth or due to other reasons. In the country's economic context, if someone is disabled, it becomes a heavy burden on the family. Personally, my desire is to find ways to restore the health of these individuals," the BNP leader said.