Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday described November 7, 1975, as the “Magna Carta of independent Bangladesh’s history”, saying the soldiers’ and people’s uprising had defined the country’s political future and laid the foundation of Bangladeshi national identity.

“November 7 is the Magna Carta of independent Bangladesh’s history,” he said at a programme commemorating the historic uprising, arguing that the events of 1975 had defeated attempts to undermine the country’s independence and sovereignty.

“Time has demonstrated that November 7, 1975, was the day that determined Bangladesh’s future course,” Tarique said. “Whenever Bangladesh has deviated from the path established on November 7, the sovereignty of the country and its people has come under threat.”

Drawing parallels between the 1975 uprising and the student-led mass uprising of August 2024, the prime minister said both had represented resistance against forces seeking to make Bangladesh a subservient state.

“The war of 1971 was fought to achieve independence. The struggle of 2024 was fought to defend the independence of the country and its people,” he said.

Tarique also called for national unity across political and religious divisions, saying the events of November 7 had helped establish a common identity for the country's citizens.

“Regardless of political affiliation, opinion, religion or ethnicity, whether Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian or members of ethnic minority communities, everyone born as a citizen of Bangladesh shares one proud identity: ‘We are Bangladeshis.’”

He concluded his address with a declaration placing national sovereignty above foreign influence.

“Neither Delhi nor Pindi, nor any other country — Bangladesh comes first.”

The prime minister said conspiracies against Bangladesh had reached their peak in the first week of November 1975, culminating in the house arrest of then army chief Ziaur Rahman and his family.

“The soldiers and people united to defeat the conspiracy against the national interest that had begun with the confinement of the proclaimer of independence,” he said.

“This is why November 7 remains a beacon of national unity for patriotic nationalists and democracy-loving people.”

Tarique said the uprising had defeated forces seeking to establish one-party rule, undermine the armed forces and deprive citizens of their democratic rights.

“Those who wanted to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state, those who sought to deprive the people of their democratic and political rights and establish one-party rule, and those forces that attempted to undermine the glory of the armed forces, the symbol of the country's courage, valour and honour, were defeated through the historic revolution of patriotic soldiers and citizens on November 7, 1975.”

He said those forces subsequently regrouped under a grand alliance and again undermined Bangladesh's sovereignty.

“They undermined the honour and dignity of the army through the planned massacre of military officers at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana. They stripped the people of their democratic and political rights and established fascist rule in the country,” he alleged.

Tarique said the events of November 7, 1975, and August 5, 2024, shared a common historical significance.

“Just as people from all walks of life took to the streets on August 5, 2024, to defend the independence of the country and its people, soldiers and citizens similarly united and took to the streets on November 7, 1975, to defeat all conspiracies against Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty.”

He said the forces defeated in 1975 had suffered another defeat in the 2024 uprising.

“In 2024, those same forces that had been defeated on November 7 were defeated once again through the bloody mass uprising of heroic students and citizens, at the cost of thousands of martyrs' lives,” he said.

“The country was liberated from fascism.”

The prime minister paid tribute to those killed and injured during the long anti-government movement and the July-August 2024 uprising.

He said November 7 had established a political direction that remained relevant to Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty.

“On this day in 1975, patriotic soldiers and citizens united to thwart all conspiracies against Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty,” he said.

“In the country's history, November 7 was the day when Bangladesh identified its friends and enemies.”

Tarique said the anniversary also represented the emergence of a common national identity that transcended political, religious and ethnic differences.

“This identity transformed us into a united nation. The foundation of our identity as Bangladeshis was also laid on the historic November 7,” he said.

He said the legacy of the uprising would endure as long as Bangladesh existed.

“As long as Bangladesh exists, the importance and significance of the united revolution of soldiers and citizens on November 7 will remain relevant,” he said.

“The heroes of November 7 are the patriotic soldiers and people.”

Paying tribute to his father, former President Ziaur Rahman, Tarique said he had defended Bangladesh's sovereignty in 1975 just as he had fought for independence in 1971.

“On the historic November 7, martyred President Ziaur Rahman stood in defence of the country's sovereignty, just as he had declared independence in 1971 and fought on the battlefield to secure Bangladesh's freedom,” he said.

“Standing on this stage on this historic November 7, I pay my humble respects to the proclaimer of Bangladesh's independence.”

The prime minister praised thousands of young participants who staged a historical display at the stadium, saying the younger generation had a responsibility to preserve national independence.

“A nation's history is not merely a recollection of the past. An accurate understanding of history provides the foundation for a nation's identity, dignity and inspiration to build a prosperous future,” he said.

“What makes today's event special is the way thousands of our adolescent boys and girls and young men and women have presented Bangladesh's historical context surrounding November 7 in this stadium with objectivity.”

“I firmly believe that if this historically conscious generation remains inspired and united by the spirit of November 7, Bangladesh will never lose its way again.”

He said young Bangladeshis had repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to national interests through the 1971 Liberation War, the November 7 events, the 1990 anti-autocracy movement and the 2024 uprising.

“Whether during the 1971 War of Independence, the soldiers' and people's revolution against subservient forces on November 7, 1975, the anti-autocracy movement of 1990, or the anti-fascist mass uprising of 2024, our young people have demonstrated at every historic moment that they have never compromised when Bangladesh's interests were at stake,” he said.

“Bangladesh comes first.”

Tarique urged political and social unity to prevent any future attempt to undermine the country's sovereignty or democratic rights.

“Our principal pledge this November 7 must be to ensure that no one can ever again deprive the country and its people of their rights or turn Bangladesh into a subservient state,” he said.

“National unity is essential to fulfilling this pledge.”

He said Bangladesh's socioeconomic, geographical and political circumstances required the country to preserve the spirit of unity demonstrated during the November 7 uprising.

“Given Bangladesh's socioeconomic, geographical and political realities, preserving national unity requires us to embrace wholeheartedly the spirit of the soldiers' and people's revolution of November 7.”

The prime minister said protecting independence was a responsibility shared by successive generations, particularly young people.

“Achieving independence is a matter of historic pride. But upholding the flag of that achievement and making independence meaningful is the responsibility of every generation,” he said.

“The younger generation, in particular, has a responsibility to embrace the fundamental principles of independence and dedicate itself to building a safe, prosperous, humane and dignified Bangladesh.”

He also stressed the responsibility of parents and guardians to create an environment in which young people could realise their potential.

“As guardians, our responsibility is to ensure a suitable environment in which the full potential of our young people can flourish,” he said.

“The present government is committed to building a prosperous future.”

Tarique said Bangladesh had repeatedly overcome threats to its independence and democracy through popular resistance.

“History bears witness that whenever conspiracies have been hatched against Bangladesh, whenever democracy has been endangered, Bangladesh has risen again, inspired by the spirit of the united revolution of November 7,” he said.

He ended his address by repeating his call for national independence and unity.

“Neither Delhi nor Pindi, nor any other country — Bangladesh comes first.”

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