7 November was a turning point in Bangladesh’s progress: Fakhrul

Bangla Press Desk:  On this day in 1975, patriotic soldiers and citizens of Bangladesh decisively thwarted a sinister authoritarian conspiracy, rescuing the nation’s most revered independence leader, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman, from house arrest and placing him at the helm of the state, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

He made the remarks while addressing the media after paying tributes to the BNP founder’s grave in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on the occasion of National Revolution and Solidarity Day on Friday (7 November).

Describing 7 November as a pivotal turning point in Bangladesh’s progress, Fakhrul said Ziaur Rahman dismantled Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s one-party BAKSAL system, restored multi-party democracy, safeguarded judicial independence, and fiercely protected the rights of the people.

The BNP leader highlighted that during just four years in power, Ziaur Rahman executed sweeping political and economic reforms. He re-established press freedom, institutionalized judicial autonomy through the Judicial Council, and implemented a free-market economy.

The solid foundations he laid for a prosperous and democratic Bangladesh continue to guide the nation’s progress, Fakhrul emphasised, underlining the day’s significance not only for the BNP but for all defenders of democracy in Bangladesh.

Addressing ongoing attempts to undermine the nation’s democratic path, Fakhrul warned that 7 November remains a crucial reminder of the struggle to build a genuinely democratic and prosperous Bangladesh—where the people’s right to vote and access to justice are fully respected.

The ceremony was attended by BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, and other senior party leaders.

BP/SP