Online Reporter/

BNP will continue its struggle to ‘regain democracy and voting rights’ in Bangladesh, said the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

On the occasion of the Great Independence and National Day, he said this in response to the questions of the journalists after paying respects at the Savare National Memorial along with the leaders and activists of the party and allied organizations on Sunday morning.

Mirza Fakhrul said, ’51 years ago today, the great independence war of Bangladesh started with the declaration of the martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the leader of our nationalist party. The independence of Bangladesh was achieved through nine months of bloody struggle. When we participated in the war of independence through the declaration of Ziaur Rahman, we had a dream, hope and desire to build a democratic state. But unfortunately, today we have to give life, struggle, fight for democracy. Our right to speak, our right to vote has been lost today, the right of journalists to write the truth has been lost. An authoritarian fascism has indeed been established in the country.’

He said, ‘We are struggling for the liberation and restoration of the democracy of this country under the leadership of the national leader Khaleda Zia, under the leadership of acting chairman Khaleda Zia. What is the misfortune of Bangladesh today, the wife of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, who is the first woman freedom fighter of Bangladesh, has been imprisoned for her movement to restore democracy. Our Acting Chairman Tariq Rahman has been kept in exile. More than 35 lakh of our activists are being harassed with false cases.’

BNP Secretary General said, ‘On this auspicious day of independence, I am taking the oath – to restore democracy in Bangladesh, to get back the right to vote, to make the suffering of the people, the rising prices of rice, oil and pulses bearable and truly make the country a democratic country. We will continue the struggle we have started to become a state.’

He was accompanied by BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Senior leaders including Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, BNP Chairperson’s advisor Aman Ullah Aman, National Executive Committee member Nipun Roy Chowdhury.