BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has announced that if his party is voted to power, a dedicated department will be established under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to ensure the welfare and rehabilitation of the martyrs’ families and those injured during the July 2024 Mass Uprising.
The BNP leader made this commitment on Sunday while addressing an exchange-of-views meeting with the families of the July uprising victims at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in the capital’s Farmgate-Khamarbari area.
Warriors of the Same Lineage
Drawing a historical parallel, Tarique Rahman stated that the heroes of 1971 and 2024 are part of the same legacy of struggle.
“Those who sacrificed their lives and made sacrifices for the country’s independence in 1971 and those who fought to protect independence and sovereignty in 2024 are warriors of the same lineage,” he said.
He noted that just as a previous BNP government established the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to honor the 1971 veterans, a new wing would now be essential to institutionalize support for the “July warriors.”
State Responsibility and Rehabilitation
Reflecting on the scale of the tragedy, Tarique Rahman cited that over 1,400 people were martyred and nearly 3,000 injured during the uprising. He emphasized that the state must take permanent responsibility for these families.
- Medical Care: The proposed department would prioritize the highest quality of medical treatment for the injured, including those who lost their eyesight or became permanently disabled.
- Family Support: While lost lives cannot be returned, the state must manage the needs and difficulties of the survivors.
- Political Rights: He argued that the ultimate honor for the martyrs would be realizing the political and economic rights for which they fought.
A Call for Vigilance
The BNP Chairperson warned against those who might exploit the movement’s spirit for partisan interests. He described the July movement as a collective struggle involving people from all walks of life—students, lawyers, laborers, and even children—rather than a movement of any single individual or group.
“If we fail to build a safe and democratic Bangladesh, this saga of mourning will continue,” he warned, urging the public to remain vigilant.
The event, chaired by BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, was also attended by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Tarique Rahman’s wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman.
