BNP to form dept to take care of martyrs, injured of July Uprising: Tarique

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday warned that if Bangladesh fails to emerge as a safe and democratic country, the nation will continue to witness mourning programmes and rallies in the future.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting with the families of those who were martyred and injured during the July mass uprising. The programme was held at the Krishibid Institute auditorium in Khamarbari, Dhaka.

Tarique Rahman said those who were martyred or injured in the uprising had faced brutal repression with a single objective - to build a self-reliant, safe and democratic Bangladesh. Stressing the importance of the upcoming national election, he said it would play a decisive role in achieving that goal.

"If a safe and democratic Bangladesh cannot be established, the country will have to organise mourning rallies like this again," he said, adding that the victory of democracy must be ensured at any cost.

Tarique Rahman announced that if the BNP comes to power, a separate department would be formed under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to look after the families of those who were martyred and injured in the July Uprising of 2024.

Drawing a parallel between historical struggles, he said those who laid down their lives in 1971 to achieve independence and those who fought in 2024 to protect independence and sovereignty were fighters of the same spirit.

He said that while listening to the pain, suffering and sacrifices of the affected families, he and BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan jointly decided to take institutional steps for their welfare. He recalled that during a previous BNP government, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs was formed to ensure the welfare of freedom fighters of 1971 and their families.

"If, by the grace of Allah and with the support of the people, BNP forms the government, a separate department under that ministry will be created to take responsibility for the martyrs and fighters of the July Uprising," he said.

Although those who were lost could never be brought back, Tarique Rahman said, the state must take responsibility for the families left behind. Addressing the families, he said, "You are also freedom fighters. You are also fighters."

The meeting was presided over by Nazrul Islam Khan, while BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi attended as a special guest. Tarique Rahman's wife, Zubaida Rahman, was also present.

Tarique Rahman said people sacrificed their lives in 1971 to gain independence, while in 2024 they once again took to the streets to protect that independence and national sovereignty. "Independence was achieved in 1971 and protected in 2024," he said.

Referring to what he described as a severe humanitarian disaster caused by repression over the past one and a half decades, particularly during the July uprising, he said more than 1,400 people were martyred and around 3,000 injured. Many, he said, lost eyesight or were left permanently paralysed, calling the killings "genocide" in one word.

He reiterated that the 2024 movement was not confined to any party or group, but was a collective uprising by people from all walks of life. Calling on democracy-loving citizens to remain vigilant, he warned against attempts to exploit the movement for partisan interests.

Reiterating the significance of the upcoming election, Tarique Rahman urged people to ensure the triumph of democracy so that Bangladesh does not have to witness such mourning again.