Tarique Rahman returns to streets after 21 years

After a gap of 21 years, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has once again taken part in a street procession, joining party leaders and activists in a sovereignty rally in the capital on Saturday.

The rally was organised by the BNP to mark the historic November 7 National Revolution and Solidarity Day. Tarique walked at the forefront of the procession, which brought together thousands of party supporters with flags, banners and slogans.

The last time Tarique joined a major party procession was in 2005, when he led a BNP founding anniversary rally alongside then Senior Joint Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. At that time, he was the party's Senior Joint Secretary General. This time, he participated as the BNP chairman and the country's prime minister.

The rally began in front of the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan at 3:15PM. A brief gathering was held at the venue from 2:35PM to 3:10PM, where Tarique addressed party leaders and activists before joining the procession.

In his speech, Tarique said the establishment of a democratic Bangladesh was the main objective of the Liberation War. He alleged that the country's democratic rights had been taken away and the BAKSAL system imposed on the people.

He said students and the public had restored democratic rights on August 5, 2024, and removed the authoritarian regime from power.

Tarique also warned that defeated forces were conspiring again and said attempts to undermine Bangladesh's democracy and sovereignty continued both inside and outside the country.

Calling for national unity, he urged democracy-loving people to stand together against such conspiracies.

Describing the November 7 rally as a programme to protect independence, sovereignty and democracy, he said the democratic gains achieved through people's sacrifices on August 5, 2024, must be protected.

The procession moved through several major roads in the capital, including Nightingale intersection, Kakrail, the Chief Justice's residence, Hare Road, Minto Road, Hotel InterContinental intersection, Banglamotor and Farmgate before reaching Manik Mia Avenue in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Tarique and other participants arrived there at around 4:45PM.

Several senior BNP leaders and cabinet members joined the rally, including Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, Standing Committee member and Prime Minister's Adviser Mirza Abbas, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Social Welfare and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Amanullah Aman and Farhad Halim Donar.

BNP Vice-Chairman and Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, Vice-Chairman and Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni, BNP Chairman's Adviser and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Joint Secretary General and MP Khairul Kabir Khokon, Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Treasurer and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat, and Publicity Secretary and Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku also attended.

Party leaders and activists from BNP's Dhaka North and South units and different districts across Dhaka Division took part in the rally. Men and women, young people and elderly supporters joined the procession, carrying party flags and banners while chanting slogans to the rhythm of drums and other musical instruments.

The procession also featured political caricatures targeting several former government figures. A symbolic figure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was portrayed as a demon inside a cage bearing the inscription ‘I am bloodthirsty’.

Another cage symbolically depicted former ministers and political figures Salman F Rahman, Hasanul Haq Inu, Shajahan Khan and Zunaid Ahmed Palak behind bars. The cage carried the inscription ‘Central Jail’.

The 21-year gap between the 2005 BNP founding anniversary procession and Saturday's sovereignty rally marked a significant change in Tarique's political position. From a senior party leader leading a procession, he has now returned to the streets as the BNP chairman and prime minister.

- MaT