Staff Correspondent

BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said that in continuation of the spirit of November 7, 1975, Bangladesh achieved mass uprisings in 1990 and July, 2024.

He said, November 7 has taught how people can rise up against injustice and misrule. November 7 is the day of awakening, the day of regaining self-awareness, the day of protecting one's freedom, sovereignty, and cultural existence, he added. 

Rizvi, also a Political Adviser to the Prime Minister, made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a discussion and cultural programme, organized by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS) at the Central Shaheed Minar marking the National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Referring to August 15, 1975, as the consequence of Awami League's internal conflict, Rizvi said, from 1972 to 1975 the country was not run according to people's expectations. The main aspiration of independence was to establish democratic and cultural rights but at that time people's democratic rights and political freedom were curtailed, he said.  

At that time, 25,000 to 30,000 revolutionaries were killed in Bangladesh, he said, adding that  the Mujib government tortured and killed people of opposing political views through the Rakshi Bahini. 

Highlighting the history of the November 7, the Acting Secretary General said, from that day, people regained the freedom to speak in this country and ordinary people regained civil liberties. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman ensured the freedom to form political parties and express political opinions without fear and even if someone said something openly, they were not attacked or arrested, he said. 

Rizvi said that after Ziaur Rahman's death, Begum Khaleda Zia led the movement to restore democracy. Under her leadership, through a long movement, the autocratic rule fell in 1990 and a transition to democratic rule took place through elections, he said. 

Regarding Sheikh Hasina's return to the country, Rizvi said, the people of Bangladesh are simple and straightforward. “But when the people roar, they roar like a ‘Kalbaishakhi’ storm. When they roar, they roar like the mighty flowing Padma. When they roar, they roar like the powerful waves of the Bay of Bengal. And in that roar, not only Sheikh Hasina but also her patrons will not be able to do anything,” he said. 

JASAS Central Committee President and film actor Helal Khan chaired the event while BNP Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Uzzal and former Director General of Shilpakala Rezauddin Stalin were present, among others.