President, PM call for unity, uphold spirit of Nov 7

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman have called on the people to uphold the spirit of the historic November 7 revolution and work together to build a democratic, just, self-reliant and sovereign Bangladesh.

In separate messages issued on Thursday on the eve of National Revolution and Solidarity Day, the two leaders paid tribute to the patriotic soldiers and civilians who participated in the November 7, 1975 uprising, highlighting its significance in the country's political history.

President Mirza Fakhrul extended greetings to the people, describing November 7 as an unforgettable day when soldiers and civilians united to thwart conspiracies against the country's independence and sovereignty.

He recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was freed from captivity during the events of that day and subsequently entrusted with leading the country out of a deep political crisis.

Describing the solidarity between soldiers and civilians as an unprecedented national awakening, Fakhrul said the spirit of November 7 was rekindled during the mass uprising of 2024, which ended 16 years of authoritarian rule through the united participation of students and people from all walks of life.

He credited Ziaur Rahman with restoring multiparty democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and press freedom, while laying the foundations for economic emancipation and national unity.

The President stressed the need to strengthen democratic institutions and resolve national challenges through mutual respect, dialogue and parliamentary processes.

Calling for an end to corruption, discrimination and conspiracies, he urged people to rise above political differences and place national interests above all else, guided by the philosophy of 'Bangladesh First'.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his message, said the revolutionary spirit of November 7 should serve as the inspiration and guiding force for building a Bangladesh of the future.

He said patriotic soldiers and civilians had united on November 7, 1975, to defeat forces seeking to undermine the country's independence, sovereignty and democratic rights.

Referring to the lessons of history, the Prime Minister said neither remaining preoccupied with the past nor ignoring historical experiences was appropriate when shaping the nation's future.

He alleged that forces defeated in 1975 later regrouped under the banner of the Grand Alliance and eventually established an authoritarian regime that deprived people of their voting rights and democratic freedoms. He also referred to the killing of military personnel at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, saying it undermined the dignity of the Armed Forces.

Tarique Rahman said the country was eventually freed from authoritarian rule through the 2024 mass uprising, led by students and ordinary people at the cost of thousands of lives.

He said the Liberation War of 1971, the November 7 revolution, the anti-autocracy movement of 1990 and the 2024 mass uprising shared a common aspiration to establish an independent, self-reliant and welfare-oriented Bangladesh where everyone's democratic rights are protected.

Emphasising national unity, he said no force should ever again be allowed to deprive people of their rights or turn Bangladesh into a subservient state.

Concluding his message, the Prime Minister declared: "Neither Delhi nor Pindi, nor any other country; Bangladesh comes first."