Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), extended heartfelt greetings to the people of Bangladesh, both at home and abroad, on the occasion of Victory Day, which marks the culmination of the nine-month Liberation War on December 16, 1971.
The BNP leader shared a Facebook post on Monday, "The nation achieved victory on December 16, 1971, after nine months of the Liberation War. On this day, I extend my greetings to the people at home and abroad. May their lives be filled with happiness, peace, prosperity and well-being.
This day marks the end of the nine-month War of Independence and the creation of an independent state named Bangladesh. I pay deep tribute to the valiant freedom fighters and martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
I pray for the salvation of the souls of the brave martyrs of the War of Independence. The mothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice to free the nation from foreign bondage (shackles) — I offer them my respectful salutations.
The War of Independence, which began on March 26, 1971, following the call of the Proclaimer of Independence, President Ziaur Rahman, ended on December 16 of that year with the defeat of the Pakistani occupying forces. The country's indomitable freedom fighters snatched this victory at the cost of their lives. Therefore, December 16 is a momentous day of national pride, joy and sorrow.
On this great day, I salute those brave soldiers.
The founding commitment of the new state was to establish Bangladesh on democratic principles based on freedom from exploitation and social justice. But the inhumane fascist forces repeatedly suppressed that commitment and imposed disastrous misrule on the people. They halted the progress of multiparty democracy.
Although our beloved motherland was liberated from enemy forces in 1971, the blueprint of the conspirators is still active. Aggressive powers show the audacity to disregard our independence and sovereignty.
The domestic agents of those evil forces continue to weave conspiracies to endanger our achieved independence. For the past sixteen years, they have repeatedly scorned public opinion by holding one-sided elections, snatching away all democratic rights of the people of this country. They have made citizens rightless by vanishing civil liberties. Multipary democracy has gone missing in this country. Freedom of the press, speech, and expression has also disappeared.
In a country without democracy, the arrogance of absolute power brought down the darkness of despair, fear and anarchy everywhere. The power usurpers carried out brutal attacks on the people, making countless people disappeared and killed, and imprisoning millions in false cases. The situation became frightfully anarchic.
The undisputed leader who fought for democracy for a long time of her life was unjustly imprisoned in a dark confinement. The inhumane oppressive ruling class continued to take one anti-people measure after another to hold onto power permanently.
To protect the independence and sovereignty of our beloved motherland from the hands of the fascists and to safeguard democracy, our national unity was strengthened by the inspiration of Great Victory Day and they were defeated in the world-shaking student-public movement of July-August '24. The fall of one of history's cruelest dictators occurred. Once again, the expectation of protecting independence and sovereignty and the revival of multiparty democracy arose in the country.
At this moment, the atmosphere must be ensured for holding free, fair, and credible elections without hindrance to form an accountable, welfare-oriented government. For a discrimination-free Bangladesh, our pledge on this Victory Day must be: we will stand by each other as human beings, forgetting division and hatred.
On Great Victory Day, I extend that call to all countrymen. I wish success to all programs held on the occasion of Victory Day.
Allah Hafez, Bangladesh Zindabad."
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