DHAKA, Dec 19, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon the party men to continue their struggle to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty.

"Today's war is to protect independence and sovereignty. And we are all fighters in this war. If we have to win this war, we will have to continue the struggle continuously," he said while virtually addressing a workshop on '31 points of repairing the state structure and public involvement'.

As part of the nationwide programme, BNP’s Training Affairs Committee organized the workshop in Muktarpur, Munshiganj this evening for designated representatives of the party from Manikganj, Narsingdi and Munshiganj.

Noting that the conspiracies of the fallen dictator's allies have not stopped, Tarique Rahman said many leaders and workers of BNP were killed, imprisoned, and subjected to victims of enforced disappearances for their struggle for establishing democracy.

Due to oppression and torture of the dictatorial regime, party men had to flee day after day, live in even paddy fields, he mentioned.

“Now the struggle is to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country. At the same time, the struggle for building the country has begun. The struggle to restore the political rights of the people of the country and strengthen the economic base of the people has also begun. Only you can lead this struggle, because you are the strength of BNP,” he told the party men.

The acting chairman said BNP had established multi-party democracy, parliamentary democracy, human rights and women rights.

"The conspiracies against you (party men) and your party and against the country have not stopped yet. The mischief of the wicked people is still going on, whether it is outside our party or within the party and whether it is in our country or outside the country. Because, many people are looking at the country's financial resources and natural resources with greedy eyes,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said the country will be safe at the hands of those who will consider the interests of country first.

If the country stays at the hands of appropriate persons, then those who are looking at the financial resources and natural resources of this country with “the eyes of vulture” will also think ten times before doing that, he said.

He urged the party men to gain the people’s trust and confidence to win the next general election.

BNP’s Social Welfare Secretary and Munshiganj District BNP Member Secretary Kamruzzaman Ratan chaired the event while BNP Vice-Chairman Dr. Asaduzzaman Ripon, Chairperson’s Adviser Ismail Zabiullah, Joint Secretary General Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, BNP Dhaka Divisional Assistant Organizing Secretary Benazir Ahmed Titu, ‘Amra BNP Paribar’ Convener Atiqur Rahman Rumon, BNP Media Cell Member Mahmuda Habiba, Central Committee Members AKM Mozammel Haque and Munshiganj District BNP Senior Joint Convener Mohiuddin Ahmed also joined it.

BNP Central Committee Member (attached to the office) Md. Abdus Sattar Patwari conducted the workshop.