Victory was achieved on December 16 in the war of independence that started at the call of Ziaur Rahman: Tarique Rahman

Wishing the countrymen and expatriate Bangladeshis on Victory Day, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said, ‘The war of independence that started on March 26, 1971 at the call of President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of independence, was achieved on December 16 of that year, by defeating the Pakistani occupying forces. The country’s indomitable heroic freedom fighters risked their lives to snatch this victory. Therefore, December 16 is an epic day of pride, joy and pain for the nation.’

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday (December 15) afternoon, he further said, After 9 months of the war of liberation, the nation achieved victory on December 16, 1971. I extend my greetings to the countrymen and expatriate Bangladeshis on this day. May their lives be filled with happiness, peace, prosperity and welfare. On this day, the 9-month-long war of independence ended and an independent state called Bangladesh was created. I pay my deepest tribute to all the brave freedom fighters and martyrs who were martyred in the liberation war of Bangladesh. I pray for the forgiveness of the souls of the brave martyrs of the liberation war. I pay my respectful greetings to the mothers and sisters who made the supreme sacrifice to free us from foreign chains.

Tarique Rahman said, on this great day, I pay my respectful greetings to those brave soldiers. The conviction of establishing Bangladesh on democratic principles based on exploitation-free and social justice was at the heart of the new state. But the inhuman fascist group repeatedly trampled on that conviction and imposed disastrous misrule on the people. It stopped the progress of multi-party democracy. Although our beloved motherland was free from enemies in 1971, the blueprint of the conspirators is still ongoing. The aggressive power shows the arrogance of disregarding our independence and sovereignty.

He further said, the agents of that evil force in this country are weaving a web of conspiracy to endanger our achieved freedom. They have been despising public opinion by holding one farce after another for the past 16 years. They have taken away all the democratic rights of the people of this country. They have made civil liberties disappear and made people deprived of their rights. Multi-party democracy is being banished in this country. Freedom of speech and individual freedoms including the press are being banned.

The BNP leader said, in a country without democracy, the darkness of despair, fear and anarchy descends everywhere under the sway of absolute power. The power grabbers launch brutal attacks on the people, make countless people disappear and kill them and imprison millions of people in false cases. The situation has become terribly anarchic. The undisputed leader, who has fought for democracy for a long time in her life, was unjustly imprisoned and kept in a dark prison. The inhumane oppressive ruling class continues to take one anti-people step after another to retain power forever.

He said, "Our national unity was strengthened by the inspiration of the great Victory Day to protect the independence and sovereignty of our beloved motherland from the hands of the fascists and to free democracy from danger, and they were defeated in the world-shaking movement of the students and the people in July-August 2017. One of the most cruel dictators in history fell. The hope of protecting independence and sovereignty and reviving multi-party democracy has risen again in the country.

Tarique Rahman said, "At this moment, we must ensure an environment for the formation of an accountable government oriented towards public welfare by holding free and fair elections without any obstacles. Let us pledge on this Victory Day for a discrimination-free Bangladesh - we will stand by the people as human beings, forgetting division and violence. On this great Victory Day, I appeal to all the countrymen. On the occasion of Victory Day, I wish the success of all the programs."