Bangladesh’s democratic journey has been repeatedly interrupted, said newly appointed Local Government Minister Dr. Abdul Moin Khan.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar on Saturday (August 22).

Four newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers visited the memorial around 1:15pm, laid wreaths at the altar of the martyrs, offered prayers for their souls and signed the visitors’ book.

Dr. Abdul Moin Khan said, “BNP has repeatedly tried to bring the country back to the path of democracy through movements and struggles.”

He said, “After 17 long years, being elected by the votes of millions of people, Tarique Rahman has dedicated himself to advancing Bangladesh toward democracy and development and to the struggle for establishing people’s rights.”

Recalling the history of the Liberation War, Moin Khan said, “At a critical juncture in the country’s history, when people were directionless and the appropriate time for the war of independence had arrived, a political party that claimed to be a pro-independence force failed to fulfill its responsibility. At that time, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman declared independence from the Kalurghat Radio Station.”

Emphasizing the importance of presenting such history to the younger generation, he said, “The continuity of democracy in Bangladesh has been disrupted repeatedly. And BNP has taken initiatives each time to bring the country back to the path of democracy.”

Earlier, at around 1:15pm, Local Government Minister Dr. Abdul Moin Khan was the first to lay a wreath at the altar of the National Martyrs’ Memorial. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Saching Prue Jerry, Religious Affairs State Minister Mohammad Shamim Kayser (Lincoln), and Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir subsequently paid their respects.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Andalib Rahman Partha arrived at the memorial shortly afterward. He laid a wreath at the altar at 1:52pm to pay tribute to the martyrs.

Following the tribute, the newly appointed ministers individually signed the visitors’ book at the National Martyrs’ Memorial.