Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on everyone to work together to establish good governance while vowing to protect the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy at any cost.
He said no conspiracy, domestic or foreign, would be able to divert the people from the path of democracy.
Tarique made the remarks in his concluding speech after leading a colourful procession marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day on Saturday.
He walked from Paltan to the Parliament complex at the end of the rally.
The procession began around 3:30pm in front of the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, with thousands of party leaders and activists taking part.
Starting from the Nightingale intersection in Nayapaltan, the procession passed through Kakrail, Shahbagh, Hotel InterContinental and Karwan Bazar before reaching the mausoleum of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in the Parliament complex area around 4:30pm. A large number of party activists and members of the public were present along the route.
Senior BNP Standing Committee members, including Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed and Amanullah Aman, accompanied the prime minister throughout the procession. Members of the Special Security Force (SSF), responsible for the prime minister’s security, were also seen on alert.
After the procession, Tarique delivered his concluding speech while standing on a truck in the Parliament complex area. He recalled the 1971 Liberation War and the historical context of 7 November 1975.
He said various quarters were still conspiring in different ways to undermine democracy and people’s voting rights. However, just as students, ordinary citizens and people across the country had thwarted conspiracies in the past, they would collectively resist any such attempts in the present and future, he added.
Urging party leaders and activists to remain alert and vigilant until final victory was achieved, the prime minister said everyone must work together to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty and establish good governance.
