Today is the 40th anniversary of the November 7 uprising in which Bangladesh Army soldiers and the people overthrow the then government.
The then army chief, Ziaur Rahman, held captive in Dhaka Cantonment from November 3, 1975, was freed through the uprising on November 7, 1975.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party celebrates November 7 as National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
The ruling Awami League observes it as the day of killing of soldiers and freedom fighters.
Factions of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal observe the day as ‘the day of mass-uprising of the people and soldiers.’
Different political parties and social and cultural organisations have taken programmes to observe the day in their own way.
BNP took a 10-day programme from November 5 to November 15.
The programmes include hoisting the party flag atop at all BNP offices across the country including its central office at Nayapaltan in the capital at 6:00am and laying wreaths and offering fateha at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman, also the BNP founder, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 10:00am today.
Earlier on October 24, a release of the party had stated that BNP leaders and activist led by party chairperson Khaleda Zia, now in London, would place wreath and offer fateha at Zia’s grave today.
Khaleda went to London on September 15.
BNP deferred to November 14 its Sunday’s discussion at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, BNP assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony said.
BNP units across the country would organise discussions and other programmes according to their conveniences to observe the day.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote will hold discussion at Shilpakala Academy at 10:30am today to mark ‘day of killing of soldiers and freedom fighters.’
National Awami Party (Bhasani) and Kazi Aref Foundation will jointly hold a gathering in front of the National Press Club marking ‘soldiers’ killing day,’ a release said.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday stressed the need for unity of all nationalist patriotic forces with the spirit of November 7.
In a message on the occasion of national revolution and solidarity day Khaleda said that November 7 was a historic day in national life.
Khaleda said that a non-elected government was now in power and it became addicted to cling to power suppressing people’s voice and compromising the country’s interest.
This misrule should be put to an end, she said, adding that people could reflect their aspiration against the autocratic rule if their voting right was restored.
Source: New Age
