Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP will hold a long march from the capital Dhaka to Agartala in the Indian state of Tripura today, under the initiative of Jubadal, Swechchha Sevak Dal and Chhatra Dal.

The program will start from Nayapaltan at 8 am on Wednesday (December 11). The leaders and activists are holding the long march after submitting a memorandum to the country's High Commission in Dhaka last Sunday in protest against Indian aggression and information terrorism.

The leaders and activists of the three organizations said that the long march will rally at Bhairab Bazar via Motijheel Shapla Chattar, Kanchpur Bridge, Bhulata Gauchia, Panchdona. From there, it is scheduled to reach the land port of Brahmanbaria, Akhaura border. Through this program, in addition to calling on the people of the country to unite for national interest, initiatives will be taken to raise awareness about various conspiracies and provocations of India.

The organizations have made extensive preparations for the long march. Hundreds of cars, open trucks and motorcycles will be used by leaders and activists of various police stations and ward committees in Dhaka city. In addition, leaders and activists of various organizational units of different districts will join this procession along the way. Necessary instructions have been given for this. Apart from this, it is known that ordinary students and youth who take a strong stand for the country, independence and sovereignty will also be able to participate in the program. Banners, posters, festoons and placards will highlight various misdeeds of India. 

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that we must stand united against human rights violations.

He said this in a message given on the occasion of the UN-declared Human Rights Day on Monday (December 9).

The BNP Acting Chairman said, today we are on a new journey - the journey of re-establishing democracy and protecting human rights. In the light of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, our future state system must be such that human rights are protected and no one is oppressed anymore.

He said, this year's theme of 'Human Rights Day' reminds us that we must stand united against human rights violations. For this, the people must be aware and organized and come forward to establish a just state system.

He also said, the leader of the entire people of the country, Begum Khaleda Zia, was imprisoned for a long time and was punished in a false case and the cruel situation in which she was subjected is a shameful chapter in our history. This chapter reminds us that protest against injustice should never stop.

Tarique Rahman said, at this moment, the people of the country are united. Everyone must come forward in this journey of establishing true democracy while protecting human rights, this should be our firm commitment on the Human Rights Day declared by the United Nations.

Tarique Rahman said, the United Nations declared December 10 as 'Human Rights Day' in 1950. Since then, 'Human Rights Day' has been celebrated every year on December 10. The theme of the 2024 International Human Rights Day is - 'Our Rights, Our Future, Now'.

He said, keeping the theme in mind on this day, I express my deep sympathy for the oppressed people of different countries of the world who have lost their fundamental rights. At the same time, I express my determination to build a just and accountable state system to implement the goal that no one else in the world, including Bangladesh, will be deprived of fundamental human rights in the future.

He further said, our country has gone through a long dark chapter of one-party rule, when people's rights were taken away, democracy was destroyed and the state system was used for personal empowerment. Those who stood against this misrule - be they politicians, journalists, students, workers or ordinary people - have been subjected to false cases, imprisonment, physical torture, disappearances and murder.

The acting chairman of BNP said, "I pay deep respect to the souls of those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for civil liberties including speech, person, thought, prayer, and printing in the past. I express my deep sympathy to those who are still being persecuted and oppressed."

In another message given on the occasion of the birth and death anniversaries of Begum Rokeya, Tarique Rahman said that while carrying the message of women's liberation, she had to face fierce attacks from the orthodox conservatives of the society. Despite this, she was indomitable and steadfast in her duty. Begum Rokeya, through her sharp writing, struck at the root of the injustice and discriminatory treatment of women by the society.

He said, Begum Rokeya deeply inspired women to be autonomous and self-respecting in these three areas of life - family, society and economy. She built a social movement to make women self-reliant despite the obstacles of a hundred pitfalls. I believe that Begum Rokeya's hard-working life and ideals will make women more energetic and inspiring.

He also said, on the occasion of the birth and death anniversaries of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, I pay my deepest respect to her memory and pray for the forgiveness of her departed soul. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, who grew up in a strict conservative family environment, was the pioneer of women's awakening in this country. She realized the backward position of women in society in the reality of her own life.

The acting chairman of BNP said, she realized that education is the main support for establishing women's self-respect. The goal of her life's struggle was the emancipation of women through the spread of women's education. She was the first to take the initiative to enlighten the backward Muslim women of this country with the light of education.

Commenting that the media is a strong pillar for democracy, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, but Sheikh Hasina had strangled all the country's press through the Digital Security Act, unfortunately destroying our media. As a result, no one dared to write a line. Some of the press was busy in her flattery in public.

He made this comment in response to a question at a view-exchange program with the Bengali media in London on Saturday (December 7) evening local time.

In response to another question, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, some black clouds have gathered to regain a new democratic social system, attempts are being made to destroy communal harmony based on some minor incidents. Some Indian media are influencing Western countries through propaganda. The reaction of which has also been reflected in the UK. There was no government in the country for 3 days from August 5, there was no police.

Regarding elections and reforms, the BNP Secretary General said that BNP has already felt the lack of reforms. Without reforms, there will never be fair elections in the country. As a result, the BNP announced Vision 2030, where the idea of change and reform was given. Even the idea of changing the parliamentary system and the extent of the power of the Prime Minister and the President was given. Then 10 points, 27 points and the latest 31 points were announced, which contain the outline of all the reforms.

Stating that no one except Allah has the power to defeat the BNP, he said that the BNP was in power three times. They will come to power again. This is certain. BNP is always ready for elections. They will say tomorrow, they will go to elections tomorrow.

Regarding Tarique Rahman's return to the country, the BNP Secretary General said that when the party feels that he needs to go to the country at this moment, he will go to the country. Everyone knows that he has many legal issues. Those issues are being worked on. When the work is completed, he will go to the country.

Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister and took refuge in India on August 5 due to the mass uprising of students and the public. After that, her statements were published on the verified Facebook page of Awami League at different times. Her phone conversations with party workers and supporters also reached the people through social media.

In this regard, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge in their country (India), it is their matter. We always expect that all countries have a basic policy. That is, the sheltered person will never speak.

Three BNP affiliates have submitted a memorandum to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka protesting the attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, the insulting of the national flag of Bangladesh and the conspiracy to incite communal riots.

On Sunday (November 8) afternoon, 6 representatives of the Jubo Dal, Swechchha Sevak Dal and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal submitted the memorandum.

The delegation included Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna and General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayan, Swechchha Sevak Dal President SM Jilani and General Secretary Rajib Ahsan, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

The memorandum will be handed over to the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma. The memorandum expresses deep concern over the recent unfriendly events.

The memorandum also states that on behalf of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliates, Jubo Dal, Swechchha Sevak Dal and Chhatra Dal, we express deep concern and surprise that you have given shelter to the fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina after she fled to your country in the unprecedented movement of the students and the masses that shook the world. Then the most extremist leaders of your country and especially some media outlets are working like ignorant and uneducated people one after another to rehabilitate this public enemy of Bangladesh, Hasina Wazed and destabilize the peaceful environment of Bangladesh. So that it is clearly evident that our friendly country India was friendly with Hasina, not with the people of Bangladesh.

It is further said that Sheikh Hasina has now become a threat to the security and stability of Bangladesh. On the one hand, she is giving orders to burn the houses and properties of people of different party affiliations in Bangladesh. On the other hand, she is threatening to kill those who have filed cases against her. The people of Bangladesh are not taking this malicious attempt to destabilize the situation in Bangladesh from the safe haven of India positively.

On December 2, a heinous attack was carried out on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. When thousands of Hindu extremists attacked the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission with state support and patronage to protest the arrest of former ISKCON leader Sri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was expelled from ISKCON due to moral lapses, your country's law enforcement agencies played the role of silent spectators.

It further said that this proved that the main gate of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission was broken down in a pre-planned manner and the protesters were given permission to attack the premises. In the process, in the presence of members of the local law enforcement agencies, they vandalized the national flag pole, desecrated the national flag of Bangladesh and also damaged property inside the Assistant High Commission. Sadly, the local police members who were in charge of guarding the premises were seen to be inactive in controlling the situation from the beginning. This is a serious violation of diplomatic norms and international law. At the same time, it is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961. Despite the continuation of such disgusting and shocking incidents, the people of Bangladesh are disappointed by the silence of your government. We deeply respect each other's independence and sovereignty. The relationship between our two countries will be based on equality, mutual trust, confidence and respect.

The memorandum states that spreading propaganda against a sovereign state is tantamount to violating the sovereignty of the state. The recent developments in India are a sign of contempt for the people of Bangladesh. We want the Indian government to advise Indian media outlets to build friendly relations and promote the ideals of international peace and security enshrined in Article 55 of the Indian Constitution through objective news.

They expect the Indian government to take effective measures to stop propaganda and disinformation against Bangladesh. A stable, mutually respectful partnership between the countries is essential for the geopolitical stability of South Asia. Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP is committed to building strong and friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of the 'sovereign equality of all members' based on the principles of the UN Charter.

Earlier, the march started in front of the BNP central office in Nayapaltan at around 11:30 am. The march stopped at around 12:35 pm due to police barricades on the road towards Badda. Leaders and activists of BNP's affiliate organizations gathered near Rampura Bridge and chanted slogans.

Since this morning, leaders and activists from different areas of the capital have been coming to Nayapaltan in separate processions. They called for a boycott of India and chanted various slogans. They took up positions near the party's head office to participate in the march. Later, the formal march began at 11:35 am.