December 16 is an epic day of national pride, joy and agony

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said, “The war of independence that began on March 26, 1971 at the call of President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of independence, was won on December 16 of that year, by defeating the Pakistani occupying forces. The indomitable freedom fighters of the country risked their lives to snatch this victory. Therefore, December 16 is an epic day of national pride, joy and agony.”

He said this in a post on his verified Facebook page on the occasion of the great Victory Day on Monday, December 16.

Tarique Rahman said, “After 9 months of the Liberation War, the nation achieved victory on December 16, 1971. On this day, I extend my greetings to the countrymen and the Bangladeshis living abroad. 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 Bangladesh Liberation War. 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 ultimate sacrifice to free us from foreign chains.”

He said, “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 that conviction and imposed disastrous misrule on the people. It stopped the progress of multi-party democracy. The aggressive power shows the arrogance of disregarding our independence and sovereignty. The agents of that evil power in this country are weaving a web of conspiracy to endanger our achieved independence. They have been humiliating 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 people deprived of their rights by making civil liberties disappear. Multi-party democracy was banned in this country. Freedom of speech and individual rights, including the press, were banned.”

He further said, “In a country without democracy, the darkness of despair, fear and anarchy descended everywhere under the rule of absolute power. The power grabbers launched brutal attacks on the people, disappeared and killed countless people, and imprisoned millions of people on false charges. The situation became terribly anarchic. The undisputed leader, who had fought for democracy for a long time in her life, was unjustly imprisoned and kept in a dark prison. The inhumane and oppressive ruling class continued to take one anti-people step after another to retain power forever.”

Referring to the July Uprising, the BNP Acting Chairman 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 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 country once again hopes for the protection of independence and sovereignty and the revival of multi-party democracy.”

He further said, "At this moment, we must ensure an environment for the formation of a public welfare-oriented accountable government 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. I appeal to all the countrymen on this great Victory Day. On the occasion of Victory Day, I wish the success of all programs. Allah Hafez, Bangladesh Zindabad."