Staff Correspondent

 Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration and BNP National Standing Committee member Md. Ismail Zabiullah asserted on Wednesday that Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty would have faced existential threats and fallen under puppet governance had the historic National Revolution and Solidarity Day uprising on November 7, 1975, not taken place.

Addressing a discussion meeting organized by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Tati Dal at the National Press Club to mark November 7, Zabiullah described the historic uprising as a crucial turning point in the nation's political trajectory.

"The joint mobilization of soldiers and citizens on November 7 wrote a historic chapter in safeguarding the country's independence, sovereignty, and national solidarity," the adviser stated. "Had that resistance against hegemonic forces not occurred, the nation’s political landscape would have taken a vastly different direction."

Highlighting the historical context, Zabiullah emphasized that the events of November 7 cannot be evaluated in isolation. He pointed to the preceding political and economic turmoil between 1972 and 1975—including centralized state controls, political instability, the 1974 famine, and internal friction within civil administration and the military—as critical background factors that generated widespread public disillusionment over unfulfilled democratic aspirations.

Recalling the political climate following the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman and subsequent military maneuvers, Zabiullah noted that parallel military structures had been cultivated to weaken the state's traditional institutional framework. However, he added, the overwhelming support of military rank-and-file and the general populace for President Ziaur Rahman shifted the balance.

Drawing a historical parallel between the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and the events of November 7, 1975, he observed that both crises witnessed common soldiers and ordinary citizens uniting to preserve sovereignty amidst deep state turmoil.

Addressing leaders and activists of Tati Dal, Zabiullah highlighted the late President Ziaur Rahman’s pioneering role in promoting domestic cottage industries, notably the establishment of the Bangladesh Handloom Board on December 31, 1977. He stressed that developing the handloom sector, protecting weavers' interests, and expanding global market access for indigenous products remain vital for rural economic growth.

Commending the political contributions of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the adviser urged party members to draw lessons from past political missteps. He called upon BNP leaders and grassroots activists to unite under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to uphold democratic values, national interests, and sovereignty.

The discussion meeting was presided over by Tati Dal Central Committee Convener Abul Kalam Azad. BNP National Executive Committee Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Sofu addressed the gathering as the chief speaker, while Rangpur Division Assistant Organizing Secretary Professor Aminul Islam attended as a special guest, alongside leaders of various affiliate organizations and media representatives.