PM Tarique Rahman Calls for Unity, Warns Against Old Politics
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today called for a new era of constructive politics in Bangladesh. He urged the opposition to avoid actions that could bring back autocracy. Such actions, he said, would betray the martyrs of the 2024 July uprising and the 1971 Liberation War.
The Prime Minister spoke at the inauguration of the July Martyrs’ Memorial and the renovated Osmani Udyan. These important events took place in Dhaka this morning. He said political differences should not stop the government and opposition from working together. This cooperation is vital for national issues like employment, public safety, healthcare, education, and national independence.
Prime Minister Rahman pointed out the absence of opposition leaders from the event. He said the government had invited them to remember the martyrs. “You did not need to sit on this stage with the government,” he said. “But if you truly believe in the spirit of July, you could have sat among the families of the July martyrs.”
The Prime Minister stated that opposition leaders received public support partly because of the sacrifices made during the uprising. Many people were killed or injured, and some lost their eyesight. He added that the public is watching whether the opposition is opposing the government just to oppose.
Both the government and the opposition received their mandates from the people through elections. Prime Minister Rahman said both have a duty to serve the public interest. He urged an end to blaming each other. Political parties might disagree on some issues, but they must find common ground on matters that affect people’s lives.
The Prime Minister linked the July uprising to the 1971 Liberation War. He said martyrs from both struggles died for the same goal: democratic rights, free expression, and voting rights. Their dreams also included good education, proper healthcare, jobs for young people, and a safe environment for all.
The July Martyrs’ Memorial stands 90-feet high on about one acre of land. It lists the names of those killed during the July 2024 uprising. Twenty symbolic grave markers are placed in front of it. Relief sculptures on the memorial show Bangladesh’s long fight for rights and democracy. This includes the Language Movement of 1952, the mass uprising of 1969, the Liberation War of 1971, the mass movement of 1990, and the July uprising of 2024.
Prime Minister Rahman also inaugurated the renovated Osmani Udyan. This 23-acre historic park in Dhaka now has restored water bodies, new trees, green areas, and 3.1 kilometers of walking paths. It also includes an exercise area, public toilets, parking, and a rainwater harvesting system.
The Prime Minister asked architects and planners to protect nature in future projects. He urged citizens to help keep public spaces, like the memorial and the park, clean. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and other senior officials attended the event.
