BNP pays homage to Language Movement martyrs

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Sunday paid homage to the martyrs of 1952 Language Movement, marking the Language Martyrs Day and the International Mother Language Day.

BNP central leaders, led by party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, went to the Central Shaheed Minar in the morning and placed a wreath at its altar.

Talking to reporters after paying homage to the martyrs, Rizvi said the country is now being run by "mafia as the government has established a one-party system of governance in the country. We’re fighting against it, imbued with the spirit of February 21, 1952.”

He said there was the pain of losing rights behind every movement and struggle in Bangladesh, including the Language Movement.

“These movements inspire and make us brave to continue our struggle for restoring our rights and democracy.”

The BNP leader added that their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept in jail "unfairly" for three years by the government to "hang onto" power by "destroying" democracy.

BNP chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman said the current government has no legitimacy, and urged it to arrange a credible national election under a neutral government by immediately quitting from power.

He also paid homage to the martyrs of February 21, 1952 who sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue, Bangla, which ultimately encouraged the nation to liberate the country through waging the Liberation War in 1971.