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been formed by the people and belongs to them, adding that although the people’s aspirations are vast, the country’s resources remain limited, and there is a gap between the nation’s ambitions and its means.

“But as a citizen and a political worker, I firmly believe that if we move forward in unity and work together for the country, we will surely be able to build our desired self-reliant Bangladesh. On this great Independence Day, I would like to convey this message to all democracy-loving people, my party colleagues across Bangladesh.”

To achieve that goal, Tarique said the government has taken various initiatives targeting different sections of society, including the introduction of family cards, farmers’ cards and canal excavation programmes, adding that steps have already been taken and their implementation has begun to improve people’s living standards.

Coming to the topic of the Liberation War, Tarique paid tribute to his late father and BNP founder Shaheed Ziaur Rahman along with all martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.

He said the people of Bangladesh had secured victory against one of the strongest armies of the time. “So, the glorious history of our independence and the Liberation War will continue to be discussed and researched for generations to come, and that is only natural.”

The BNP leader said while the past must not be forgotten, it should not be overemphasised either, as excessive focus on the past has hindered the country’s progress towards a prosperous future.

Drawing the attention of the younger generation, he said that Ziaur Rahman was an indispensable character in Bangladesh’s independence and the Liberation War.

“The dream of Bangladesh’s independence was something he [Ziaur Rahman] nurtured in his mind, and this is reflected in one of his writings. From that writing, we can clearly understand that he held the idea of independence and had long made mental preparations for a sovereign Bangladesh.”

He was referring to Ziaur Rahman’s article titled “Birth of a Nation”, published on March 26, 1972, in the Dainik Bangla.

“In the article, he [Ziaur Rahman] wrote about the historic moment of 2:15am on March 26, 1971, describing it as a day the people of Bangladesh would remember forever… What happened at 2:15am on March 26, 1971, I believe, is an important piece of evidence for those who research the history of independence and the Liberation War.”

Tarique said when Ziaur Rahman’s article was first published, the war had just ended and those who had been directly or indirectly involved were still alive, but no one raised any objection against the contents of the article.

Highlighting the value of independence, Tarique said the people of Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 through immense sacrifice and defended it again in 2024 amid adversity.

Recalling recent struggles, he said many lives were lost in movements for democracy, adding that the ultimate goal of all struggles -- from 1971 to 1990 and 2024 -- was to establish a democratic Bangladesh based on equality, human dignity and social justice.

At the beginning of the event, a prayer was offered seeking eternal peace for the souls of the party’s founder, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and martyrs of the Liberation War.

BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the programme, with BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair.