DHAKA, Oct 31, 2024 (BSS) – BNP chairperson's adviser and former opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque has demanded that November 7 should be celebrated as 'Jatiya Biplob and Sanghati Dibosh' (National Revolution and Solidarity Day)and declared as a national holiday.

"When the dictator Sheikh Hasina came to power, the historical days were systematically hidden from the people's eyesight. So, it is a demand towards the current interim government that they will take the initiative to celebrate November 7 officially like previous times," he said.

Farroque said these as the chief guest while speaking at a sit-in programme organized by the Bangladesh Unmokto Gonotantrik Parishad in front of the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) here demanding the reinstatement of public holiday on the 'Jatiya Biplob and Sanghati Dibosh'(November 7).

With President of Bangladesh Unmokto Gonotantrik Parishad and former student leader Ramiz Uddin Rumi in the chair, the programme was moderated by Arafat Rahman Abir.

NDP Secretary General Manjur Hossain Isa, Krishak Dal leaders Ibrahim, Md Rabiul Islam Rabi and M Jahangir Alam and former Joint General Secretary of Jubo Dal S M Mizanur Rahman, President of Projanma Academy Kalam FOyezi, President of Jagrata Bangladesh Md Zahirul Islam Kalim, General Secretary Syed Mozammel Hossain Shaheen, President of Protibad Ibrahim Hossain and BNP leaders Advocate Arifa Sultana Ruma and Maulana Alamgir Hossain also spoke, among others.

Farroque said agents of India were engaged in a conspiracy to undermine the independence and sovereignty of this country from November 3 to November 6, 1975.

Finally, on November 7, the Sipahi-Janata (sepoys-people) of this country stood against the plotters and foiled their plot, he said, adding that for this reason, the day was celebrated officially in the country for a long time.

He also said that the Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman took charge of the country through the November 7 uprising and he quickly gave multi-party democracy to the people of Bangla.

Shaheed Zia taught the people of the country to stand their heads high, he said, adding that Zia will be remembered through the observance of November 7.

He urged the present government to hold elections soon.

"A strong elected government is much needed to counter domestic and foreign conspiracies," Farroque added.

"We never want to declare 152 people elected unopposed like in 2014, or win unopposed like in the 2018's election (the election of night). We want the people, who were deprived of giving votes, to elect their favorite people by exercising their right to vote and let their competent people run the country efficiently," he said.

Pointing at dictator and fascist Sheikh Hasina, he said, "Sheikh Hasina, you have fallen. Your father used to call Bangladesh 'my country' and you call it 'my father's country'. But you have completed all the plans to make an independent country a slave of another country."

"The people of the country have understood your plan. They forced you to leave the country. What a cruel irony of fate, now you are spending your days in a shelter in Delhi," he said.