Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday greeted BNP leaders, activists, supporters, well-wishers and the people of the country on the occasion of the party’s 48th founding anniversary.
“The establishment of BNP was a landmark event in the history of restoring democracy in Bangladesh,” he said in a message issued this afternoon.
The prime minister recalled that former president Ziaur Rahman founded BNP on August 31, 1978, at an open ground in Ramna, Dhaka.
He said Ziaur Rahman restored democracy after assuming office and reinstated the rights of banned political parties to conduct political activities, paving the way for the formation of BNP and the revival of pluralistic democracy in the country.
Tarique paid deep respect to former president Ziaur Rahman, describing him as the Great Proclaimer of Independence, a successful statesman and the architect of modern Bangladesh.
He also recalled former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia with respect, saying that through her leadership and personality, she brought BNP closer to people across the country.
“Whenever independence, sovereignty and democracy have come under threat, BNP leaders, activists, supporters and well-wishers have sacrificed their lives alongside the pro-democracy people,” he said.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to BNP leaders and activists at all levels for their sacrifices in the struggle for democracy and good governance.
He said BNP, alongside the people, had played and continued to play the role of a vigilant guardian in protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy.
Tarique Rahman said BNP had been given the opportunity to govern whenever people were able to exercise their voting rights through free and fair elections.
Highlighting initiatives taken by BNP governments to strengthen and institutionalise democracy, including the restoration of parliamentary democracy and expansion of women’s education, he said the party had again been entrusted by the people to run the state through a free, fair and impartial election after the end of more than 15 years of “fascist rule and exploitation”.
The prime minister said BNP wanted to repay the people’s trust and love by establishing an accountable state and building Bangladesh as a welfare-oriented country.
“The people who believe in democracy are the source of all political power of BNP,” he said, adding that BNP’s other name was the struggle to build a welfare-oriented, democratic and self-reliant Bangladesh.
BNP announced a 5-day programme
As part of the programme, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will pay tributes to former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia by placing wreaths at their graves at Zia Udyan in the capital at 9am on Tuesday.
A discussion meeting will be held on 5 September.
The party will also organise a fish fry releasing programme on a suitable date under the leadership of Joint Secretary General Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel. A tree plantation campaign will be led by Joint Secretary General and Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anne.
After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman, his wife Khaleda Zia took over the leadership of BNP and served as the party chairperson until her death. Following her imprisonment in cases in 2018, her son Tarique Rahman served as the acting chairman of the party.
After the death of Khaleda Zia in 2025, Tarique Rahman assumed charge as the party chief. Under Khaleda Zia’s leadership, BNP led the nine-year-long movement against the Ershad regime and succeeded through a mass uprising.
Through her uncompromising opposition to dictatorship, Begum Khaleda Zia earned the reputation of an “uncompromising national leader”.
Under her leadership, BNP won a majority in the 1991 national election and formed the government.
The party returned to power again in 2001 after securing a majority in the national election under her leadership.
Following the one-eleven political changeover in 2007, BNP faced various challenges, obstacles, torture and oppression until 2024, according to the party.
The party said numerous BNP leaders and activists, including Khaleda Zia, faced severe persecution during the period while many were subjected to enforced disappearances and killings.
BNP said its role and sacrifices, alongside students and the public, were significant during the mass uprising of 2024.
The party said the 16-year-long Awami League government ended on 5 August , 2024, following the mass uprising, after which Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country.
BNP said it faced restrictions in holding political programmes during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure and was obstructed in various ways by the state apparatus and ruling party activists.
In the 13th national election held on February 12 this year, BNP secured a landslide victory with a two-thirds majority in parliament and formed the government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.
