Minister Anee Says BNP’s 17-Year Campaign Set Stage for July Uprising

Bangla Press Desk:  Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has claimed that the July 2024 mass uprising was built on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) 17-year political movement against the previous Awami League government.

Speaking at a discussion titled "Unity, Not Division, for Building a Just and Equal Society" at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Tuesday, Anee questioned the role of the current opposition during the anti-government movement.

"Every uprising requires a foundation. The foundation of the July uprising was the BNP's 17 years of continuous struggle," he said, rejecting claims that the current opposition had led the movement on its own.

The programme was organised by Amra Bangladeshi and chaired by its coordinator Syed Ehsanul Huda.

Criticising the opposition, Anee alleged that it had played no significant role in previous movements against military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad or the Awami League government. He also claimed that the opposition had expected to come to power but had failed to achieve its political objectives.

The minister said the BNP had faced challenges in several constituencies due to multiple party candidates and weaknesses in overseas voting, calling for close monitoring to ensure free and fair elections in affected seats in the future.

Highlighting the government's priorities, Anee said the administration, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, had been in office for only five months and was working to address the country's economic and administrative challenges.

"We fought for 17 years, and people now expect a normal life. Although many problems remain due to years of corruption and looting, the Prime Minister has already undertaken several initiatives. With everyone's cooperation, we hope to build a prosperous Bangladesh," he said.Anee also accused the previous Awami League government of widespread corruption and alleged that opposition leaders and activists had been subjected to excessive torture by Detective Branch (DB) police during its tenure.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister's Political Assistant Muhammad Rashed Khan criticised the opposition, claiming its alliance had weakened from 11 parties to nine. He dismissed its calls for another mass uprising, saying the opposition should focus on its own internal divisions.

Other speakers included Lakshmipur-1 MP Shahadat Hossain Selim, Bangladesh Kalyan Party Chairman Shamsuddin Parvez, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh Secretary General Maulana Mohiuddin Ekram and several leaders from BNP and allied political parties.