BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said repeated conspiracies and plots were carried out against the nation.

“Martyred Intellectuals Day is an extremely tragic day for us. Repeated conspiracies and plots were carried out to prevent the people of this country from advancing in knowledge, science and education,” he said. 

He made the remarks while speaking at a discussion marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day, organized by BNP at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city. 

“On December 14, 1971, the most brilliant people of Bangladesh were brutally murdered through a planned blueprint. This was a deep-seated conspiracy to render a nation devoid of its intellect just two days before the independence,” Fakhrul said. 

During his speech, Fakhrul paid deep respect to the martyred intellectuals of 1971. Members of the BNP National Standing Committee and central leaders were present at the event.

Mentioning the young generation, Fakhrul said, “Today's younger generation, especially those under the age of 30, have not directly comprehended the horror of this day. However, those who were young at the time, who participated in the Liberation War, witnessed the reality of that era with their own eyes. The Pakistani ruling elite was infringing upon the rights of the people of this country politically, economically and socially; and inflicting oppression through exploitation and deprivation. It was because of this deprivation that the struggle to establish an independent state began after a long battle.”

He further stated that some people of this land took away and murdered the intellectuals that day, with the direct or indirect cooperation of the political forces that opposed independence. “History proves this today. There is no scope to take this matter lightly,” he added. 

Referring to the similar events occurring in a different context during the last 15–16 years of Awami League rule, the veteran BNP leader said, “The education system has been weakened, the health system has collapsed, and the economic structure has been destroyed. However, despite all this, there is an inherent strength within this nation, the power to rise up. A hundred acts of persecution, oppression, murder, and war have failed to suppress this nation.”

Mentioning the July uprising, Mirza Fakhrul said that a new possibility has been created by removing those who have implemented fascist rule for 15 years and destroyed the country's economy and state system. Although there are various limitations, including the lack of experience in the interim government, some positive work has been done, he added. 

He recalled that in 2016, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia presented ‘Vision-2030,’ and later 31-point programme was adopted to unite the fight against fascism. “Under the guidance of the acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, efforts are ongoing to deliver this programme to the people and work towards building a new Bangladesh,” he added. 

The BNP Secretary General stated that no matter how many conspiracies there are, the people of Bangladesh have the courage to overcome them and move forward. “The BNP is playing the biggest role in this struggle. In the last 15–16 years, 6 million false cases were filed against the BNP, 20,000 activists were killed, and 1,700 activists were subjected to enforced disappearance, yet the BNP could not be suppressed,” said Fakhrul.

He further said, “All conspiracies will be thwarted, and the dream of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Begum Kahleda Zia and  Tarique Rahman for a happy, prosperous, and democratic Bangladesh will be realized through the elections.” 

He emphasized that the BNP is a democratic and liberal political party that seeks to advance through democratic means.