(BSS)- BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said his party will assist the families affected by the July Uprising if the party come to power in next election.

To support the families of July movement BNP will open a separate department under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs (MoLWA), he said.

Tarique Rahman said this while addressing an exchange of views meeting with family members of those killed and injured during the July Uprising at the KIB auditorium at Khamarbari in the city today.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of Tarique Rahman, also attended the programme.

The BNP chairperson noted that the BNP government under Begum Khaleda Zia established the MoLWA to honor and uphold the dignity of the valiant freedom fighters of 1971. Insha Allah, if the BNP can form government, a separate department will be created under this ministry to provide healthcare services and rehabilitation of the families of the martyrs and injured July fighters.

“July warriors are also considered as freedom fighters," he said.

Tarique Rahman said, "In 1971, the freedom fighters sacrificed their lives to achieve the independence. Exactly in the same way, the warriors of July Uprising fought to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country.”

“Independence and sovereignty were achieved in 1971 and it was protected again in 2024,” he observed.

Tarique Rahman said during the anti-fascist movement for more than one and a half decades thousands of people became victims of enforced disappearance, murder and abduction. Countless families have been torn apart, having lost everything.

Even in the July uprising alone, more than 1,400 people were martyred and about 3,000 people were injured. There are 500 people whose one eye or both eyes were damaged. Many have become crippled. The way the people were killed in the July uprising, in one word, we can call it simply genocide."

Highlighting the courageous role of the July warriors, the BNP Chairman said, "Due to the courageous role of those who were martyred and injured in the July mass uprising, the fascist clique was forced to not only leave state power but also flee the country. Yet even a six-year-old child like Riya Gope was not spared from the fascists` genocide that day."

"In that mass uprising, people from all classes and professions who love the country`s independence and desire democracy took to the streets. Every single picture that was captured by cameras that day bears testimony to this," he added.

BNP Chairman further said, July Uprising is not of any individual, party or group. Everyone must remain vigilant to protect the movement from any party interests."

Highlighting the need to ensure political and economic freedom of every citizen, Tarique Rahman said the pain of the family members July victims cannot be recovered by anything. However, we can try to provide compensation to those injured in the mass uprising and ensure their highest level of treatment through state initiatives.

Stating that the upcoming national election is extremely important for establishing a safe democratic Bangladesh, the BNP Chairman said the objective of July warriors was to build a self-reliant and democratic Bangladesh. And for this, the upcoming national election is extremely important.

In the meeting, Tarique Rahman listened attentively to the sufferings of the family members of the martyrs and injured of the July movement. At one point, he also became emotional and the venue filled with yells and wails of the families of the martyred warriors.

The BNP Chairman prayed for the departed souls of the martyrs of the July Uprising and for the speedy recovery of the injured.

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan presided over the event and Assistant Office Secretary Abdus Sattar Patwari conducted the event.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Amra BNP Poribar Convener Atiqur Rahman Ruman along with family members of martyrs and injured persons participated in the event.