Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that the pro-democracy people of Bangladesh are the source of all political power of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He said the BNP stands for the struggle to build a welfare-oriented, democratic and self-reliant Bangladesh.

He made the remarks in a message issued on Sunday (August 31) marking the BNP’s 48th founding anniversary. He also extended greetings and congratulations to party leaders and activists at all levels, supporters, well-wishers and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion.

Tarique Rahman said the 48th founding anniversary of the BNP, which he described as one of Bangladesh’s most popular political parties, is a day of joy, enthusiasm and inspiration for the people of Bangladesh, reflecting the party’s courage, struggle, sacrifice and achievements.

He said that on this day in 1978, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the announcer of Bangladesh’s independence and former president, founded the BNP at the open premises of Ramna Botmul in Dhaka. He described the founding of the BNP as a landmark event in the history of restoring democracy in Bangladesh.

Tarique Rahman said a one-party system known as BAKSAL was established on January 25, 1975, restricting freedom of speech, individual liberty and democracy. After assuming responsibility for governing the country, President Ziaur Rahman restored democracy and reinstated the right of banned political parties to engage in politics. The founding of the BNP subsequently marked the beginning of a renewed journey toward pluralistic democracy in Bangladesh, he said.

On the BNP’s founding anniversary, Tarique Rahman paid deep respect to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. He also respectfully remembered former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Tarique Rahman said Begum Khaleda Zia, through her leadership and personality, had taken the BNP to every household across Bangladesh. Alongside its efforts to establish democracy and good governance, he said, the BNP had played the role of a vigilant guardian in protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty with the people.

He said whenever the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy came under threat, BNP leaders, activists, supporters and well-wishers had sacrificed their lives alongside the pro-democracy people. He also paid deep tribute to those who had been killed or injured in the struggle to establish democracy and good governance since the founding of the BNP.

In his message, Tarique Rahman said whenever the people of Bangladesh had the opportunity to cast their votes freely and fairly without fear, they had entrusted the BNP with governing the country. During its various terms in government, he said, several initiatives—including the restoration of parliamentary democracy and expansion of women’s education—were taken to strengthen and institutionalize democracy.

He said that following the end of a prolonged period of rule and exploitation, the people of Bangladesh once again entrusted the BNP with governing the country through a free, fair and impartial election. He said the BNP wanted to repay the people’s love by establishing an accountable state. The government was working toward establishing Bangladesh as a welfare-oriented state, he added.

Tarique Rahman said every BNP leader, activist, supporter and well-wisher would continue to dedicate themselves to serving the country and play a strong role in the days ahead while preserving the people’s trust and confidence.

He said, “The BNP believes that the pro-democracy people of Bangladesh are the source of all political power of the BNP. The BNP’s other name is the struggle to build a welfare-oriented, democratic and self-reliant Bangladesh.”

At the end of his message, Tarique Rahman extended greetings to the pro-democracy and freedom-loving people of Bangladesh on the BNP’s founding anniversary.