Staff Correspondent

The National Revolution and Solidarity Day 2026 will be observed across the country on Saturday with due dignity, solemnity and enthusiasm, marking the 51st anniversary of the historic events of November 7, 1975.

On the eve of the day, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman issued separate messages recalling the significance of the historic day and calling for national unity to protect the country's independence, sovereignty and democratic rights.

The government has taken an elaborate programme to observe the day, which was declared a public holiday.

In his message, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said November 7 remains an unforgettable day in national life and a defining moment in the history of Bangladesh.

At a critical juncture marked by subservient misrule, corruption, anarchy and hegemonic conspiracies, the united revolution of soldiers and people restored the country's independence and sovereignty, thwarting all conspiracies against the nation, he said.

Mirza Fakhrul said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, the Proclaimer of Independence, was freed from captivity. With the overwhelming support of the people, he was entrusted with the solemn responsibility of governing the State and steering the nation out of crisis. “At this moment of profound crisis, he emerged as a saviour of the nation,” he said.

He said the solidarity of soldiers and people represented an unprecedented national awakening inspired by the spirit of independence.

“The same spirit was rekindled during the mass uprising of 2024. The unwavering unity of students, women and men, members of the Armed Forces, and people from all walks of life brought an end to sixteen years of fascist rule. Our beloved motherland was once again saved from the peril of becoming a subservient State,” he said.

The President urged the people, being inspired by the spirit of 7 November, to be united in the commitment to safeguarding national independence and sovereignty, and rise above all political differences and work together to eliminate corruption, discrimination and all conspiracies and build a democratic, just, humane and secure Bangladesh.

In a separate message, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the soldiers and people of Bangladesh united On November 7, in 1975, to thwart all conspiracies against the country's independence and sovereignty.

“The historic 7 November was a defining moment in the nation's history, when the friends and foes of Bangladesh were clearly identified,” he said.

Citing that the historic 7 November 1975 was a defining date in determining Bangladesh's course, the Prime Minister said, “Those who sought to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state, those who wanted to deprive the people of their democratic and political rights and establish one-party authoritarian rule and those who sought to undermine the glory of the armed forces, the symbol of the nation's valour, courage and honour, were defeated through the historic revolution of the patriotic soldiers and people on that day.”

Tarique Rahman said history bears the witness that the defeated forces of 7 November 1975 later united under the banner of the Grand Alliance and turned the country into a subservient state following a prolonged course of conspiracy.

 “Finally, after more than a decade and a half, the country was freed from fascism through a bloody mass uprising led by brave students and people, at the cost of thousands of martyrs,” he said.

The prime minister said the War of 1971 was fought to achieve independence and the struggle of 2024 was to safeguard the independence of the country and its people. Just as people from all walks of life took to the streets in 2024 to defend the freedom of the country and its people, the soldiers and civilians had also united and taken to the streets in 1975 to thwart all conspiracies against the country's independence and sovereignty, he added.

“Our foremost commitment on this year's 7 November should be to ensure that no one can ever again deprive the country and its people of their rights or turn Bangladesh into a subservient state. National unity is essential to fulfill this commitment,” he added.

Tarique Rahman said the Liberation War of 1971, the soldiers' and people's revolution of 7 November 1975 against subservient forces, the anti-autocracy movement of 1990, and the anti-fascist mass uprising of 2024-all these revolutions and uprisings at different junctures in our history have been driven by one common aspiration: to build a self-reliant, secure and welfare-oriented state in an independent Bangladesh by ensuring all democratic and political rights of the people.

“On this historic day, commemorating the 7 November 1975 revolution of the soldiers and people, which was fought to thwart conspiracies against Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty and to protect the democratic rights of its people, let the resolute voice of the patriotic and democracy-loving people ring out: Neither Delhi nor Pindi, nor any other country; Bangladesh comes first,”

The Prime Minister wished the revolutionary spirit of 7 November serve as the inspiration and guiding force for building the Bangladesh of tomorrow.

As part of the government's programme, the national flag will be hoisted at all government and private buildings across the country and Bangladesh missions abroad with due dignity.

Major roads and road islands across the country will be decorated with national flags through joint initiatives of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the Local Government Division, city corporations and municipalities.

Special milad mahfils and special prayers will be offered at the holy mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship across the country, seeking peace, prosperity and progress for the nation.

Improved meals will be served at hospitals, prisons, orphanages, child centres, correctional facilities and other institutions. All children's parks under city corporations and municipalities will remain open free of charge throughout the day.

Drawing competitions for children will be organised at district and upazila levels, while educational institutions will arrange special discussions and essay competitions.

Special articles and supplements will be published in national newspapers while Bangladesh Television, private television channels and radio stations will broadcast special programmes.

The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will organise patriotic song programmes, while discussions highlighting the significance of the day and exhibition football matches will be held at district and upazila levels.

Special commemorative discussions will also be organised with the participation of families of martyred freedom fighters, wounded freedom fighters and other valiant freedom fighters.

The Armed Forces will arrange flag hoisting, milad mahfils, receptions and special darbars. A colourful display will also be staged at the Army Stadium in Dhaka under the supervision of Bangladesh Cadet Corps.

Various agencies under the Home Ministry, including Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar and VDP, the Department of Narcotics Control, Coast Guard, Prisons Directorate and Fire Service and Civil Defence, will also arrange milad mahfils, feasts and special darbars.

Meanwhile, the ruling BNP has taken a seven-day programme from November 5 to 11 to observe the day.

As part of the programme, national and party flags will be hoisted at 6am on Saturday at the party's central office and its offices across the country.

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, along with national leaders and party activists, will place wreaths at the graves of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

The party will also bring out a colourful rally from in front of its central office in Nayapaltan at 3pm on Saturday.

District and metropolitan-level rallies will be organised across the country on the day, while rallies will be held at thana and upazila levels on November 8. BNP and its affiliated organisations will also arrange discussion meetings and other programmes.

Opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will also observe the National Revolution and Solidarity Day with due dignity.

Jamaat Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman, in a statement issued on November 5, called upon people to observe the day appropriately.

He said November 7 was a significant day in national history when patriotic soldiers and common people took to the streets in unity with a commitment to protect the country's independence, sovereignty and national interests.

Referring to the instability and uncertainty following the counter-military coup of November 3, 1975, he said the united role of patriotic soldiers and people on November 7 had added a new dimension to the situation.

He said the participation of people, chanting 'Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar', further strengthened their determination to protect the country's independence and sovereignty.