DHAKA, Aug 7, 2024 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia today called upon the country's people, including her party leaders and workers, to forget the vengeance and revenge and strengthen the hands of students and youth to maintain a peaceful environment in the country.

She made this call virtually while addressing a victory rally, organised by BNP, after dictator Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister and fled the country in the wake of student upsurge.

Begum Khaleda Zia's videotaped speech was aired in the grand victory rally at Nayapaltan in the capital.

Emphasizing the importance for building a knowledge-based and non-discrimination society, she said "Let us strengthen the hands of students and youth to build modern Bangladesh based on peace, progress and equality."

There should not be destruction, revenge and vengeance but a society of peace based on knowledge with love should be built, while the rights of all religions and casts must be ensured," she said.

About the mass uprising of the students led by the anti-discrimination student movement, Begum Khaleda Zia, the most popular national leader of Bangladesh, said, "This victory has brought us new possibilities. We have to build a prosperous Bangladesh from the ruins of unprecedented corruption and democracy. The brave children have made this impossible possible through the hardest struggle."

She paid deep respect to the memory of several hundreds of martyrs in this movement of the students and sought recovery of the injured.

Terming 'students and youth' the future of the nation', the former prime minister said, 'We must build a democratic Bangladesh based on merit, competence and knowledge to realise the dream that the youth have shed their blood for. A prosperous Bangladesh without exploitation should be built on the basis of human rights, social justice and equality."

She said, "I am thanking Almighty Allah for being able to speak in front of you after being ill for long."

The rally started at 3:30pm with the recitation of the holy Quran on the temporary stage in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan here.

Immediately after the start of the rally, a minute silence was observed in memory of the students and political leaders who were killed in the anti-discrimination student movement.

BNP organised this victory rally two days after dictator Sheikh Hasina fled the country in the student uprising. Even in a short time, the spontaneous participation of thousands of people in this gathering was unimaginable.

The BNP Chairperson's speech was heard for the first time since she was convicted in the so-called corruption case and went to jail on February 8, 2018.

In 2020, she was temporarily released by the government's executive order, but due to the government's conditions, she had to live in a kind of confinement at her Gulshan house. During this time, she was not seen in any political programme of the party.

After the fall of the Awami League government, Begum Khaleda Zia was released on Tuesday last when the President decided to release here. However, due to illness, she has been in the hospital for quite some time.

Begum Khaleda Zia said, "I thank Allah for being able to speak in front of you after being ill for a long time. During my imprisonment, you fought for my release from prison and prayed my recovery from illness. I thank you all to this end."

Begum Zia said, "In exchange for long struggle and sacrifice, we got freedom from the fascist illegal government. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our brave children who have made this impossible possible through their struggle. I pay tributes to all the martyrs."

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the victory rally, while acting chairperson of the party Tarique Rahman spoke at the rally through videoconferenceing as the chief guest.

BNP standing committee members Dr Khondkar Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Nazrul Islam Khan and Begum Selima Rahman, BNP Vice chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon also spoke the rally moderated by BNP publicity and publication secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.