BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has called on students to remain vigilant and play an active, conscious role in resisting the rise of extremism in the country.
"The people of Bangladesh, 54 years after independence, no longer want politics rooted in vengeance," he said while speaking virtually at the rally of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in the capital's Shahbagh.
Tarique Rahman urged Chhatra Dal leaders and activists to focus their political efforts on improving people's lives and livelihoods.
He added, "No force can halt the progress of an organisation that is built by the courageous sons of this nation."
Speaking at the rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called for unity, warning against efforts to create division among people.
"They [fascist forces] are trying hard to divide us. They are trying to destabilise Bangladesh. But we will never allow fascist Sheikh Hasina to continue doing politics in this country," he said.
"Young people from across the country have gathered here today. It's a day of great joy, but also of deep sorrow," he said at Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's rally in Dhaka, recalling that on this day last year, the Awami League was "killing people across the country."
BNP Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel accused India of not only giving refuge to Sheikh Hasina, whom he labeled a "murderer," but also of conspiring to destabilise Bangladesh.
Referring to the Awami League, he declared, "Those who killed our brothers and sisters must be brought to justice on the soil of Bengal."
Echoing the demand, BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie said they repeatedly urged the interim government to initiate Hasina's trial.
"If Hasina is not tried, the people of this country will not forgive us," he warned, stressing that the trial must begin without delay.
He also called for unity among all forces aligned with the goals of the July movement.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, commenced a large-scale rally at Shahbagh as thousands of leaders and activisits gathered for the event.
The event, part of a month-long nationwide programme, commemorates the anniversary of the July–August 2024 mass uprising that led to the ousting of the Awami League government after 16 years in power.
BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the rally virtually from London as the chief guest. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was present as a special guest, while the party's Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul delivered the keynote speech. The rally was presided over by Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and moderated by General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.
Although the rally was scheduled to begin at 2:30pm, it officially commenced at 3:16pm with a recitation from the Quran, followed by the national anthem. Chhatra Dal had previously instructed its activists from across the country to gather in the capital for the event.
From early morning, members from different units began arriving at Shahbagh. A stage was erected at the Shahbagh intersection, and crowds spread along the roads leading to TSC, Matsya Bhaban, and Katabon, causing a complete halt in traffic in the area.
Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir described the rally as "historic and unprecedented," claiming it would be the largest student gathering ever held at Shahbagh.
He said the rally holds deep symbolic importance, as it marks the moment when, according to him, young people risked their lives to bring down what he called the "killer regime of Sheikh Hasina."
Nasir said the event would be joined by hundreds of thousands of Chhatra Dal activists, along with large numbers of general students from across the country.
He added that Chhatra Dal has played a pivotal role in shaping a new, positive course for democratic politics following the uprising.
Despite light rain in the afternoon, Chhatra Dal activists continued arriving at the rally site, chanting slogans and marching in small processions. The Shahbagh area and its surroundings became vibrant with slogans calling for the restoration of democracy. A large banner beside the main stage displayed photos of BNP activists who were killed during the July-August uprisings and other political movements under what the organizers described as authoritarian regimes.
To reduce public inconvenience and maintain discipline, Chhatra Dal issued several internal guidelines, including instructions on conduct, traffic cooperation, and cleanliness.
Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) is also holding a separate gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar this afternoon. That event, too, commemorates the first anniversary of the July–August uprising and recalls the one-point demand raised on this day last year for the resignation of the Awami League government. The uprising eventually resulted in the fall of the ruling coalition, ending a 16-year-long period of uninterrupted power.
Due to the heavy gatherings expected at Shahbagh, the Central Shaheed Minar, and the nearby Suhrawardy Udyan, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has suspended vehicular movement through Shahbagh intersection. In a statement issued last night, the DMP advised city residents to avoid the Shahbagh area and use alternative routes.
