Dhaka, Jan 18 (V7N) — BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) comes to power, a separate department will be established under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to ensure state responsibility for the families of the July martyrs and those injured in the uprising.

He made the remarks while speaking privately with victims and their family members at a program held at the Krishibid Institute in the capital on Sunday.

Tarique Rahman assured the victims of BNP’s continued support and recalled that during BNP’s previous tenure in government, the Ministry of Freedom Fighters was established to look after the families of those martyred or injured in the 1971 Liberation War.

“The July uprising does not belong to any individual, party or group. It was a mass uprising of the deprived people,” he said, adding, “1971 was for achieving independence, while 2024 was for protecting that independence.”

Expressing personal empathy, the BNP chairman said that the pain of losing a loved one can never be erased. However, he said justice and dignity could be ensured in two ways — bearing full medical expenses by the state and guaranteeing economic rights based on qualifications. “BNP will ensure this if it comes to power,” he added.

Drawing a parallel between the two historic movements, Tarique Rahman said freedom fighters in 1971 sacrificed their lives to achieve independence, while those who fought in July 2024 did so to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty.

Referring to repression during what he termed the anti-fascist movement over the past one and a half decades, he said thousands of people were victims of enforced disappearances, killings and abductions, leaving countless families devastated.

He claimed that more than 1,400 people were killed and around 30,000 injured during the July uprising alone. Among the injured, he said about 500 people lost one eye, while some lost both. “The way nearly 1,500 people were killed during the July uprising can be described in one word as genocide,” he added.

Tarique Rahman also stressed the importance of the upcoming national election, saying it is crucial for building a safe and democratic Bangladesh. “If we fail to establish a secure and democratic state, these mourning rallies and stories of grief will continue,” he warned.

He expressed hope that people who believe in democracy would ensure its victory in the future Bangladesh.

END/SMA/AJ