The spirit of the War of Liberation was restored through the November 7 revolution, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam said on Friday.

“Under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, soldiers and civilians united that day and defeated hegemonic forces,” he said while addressing a drawing competition and prize-giving ceremony organised by Zia Shishu Kishore Mela at the Jatiya Press Club, marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Salam, also Dhaka South City BNP convener, said the dream behind the War of Liberation had been shattered after independence, but the revolution under Ziaur Rahman's leadership on November 7, 1975, created an opportunity to uphold that spirit once again.

He said the country must continue to move forward, inspired by the spirit of November 7, for as long as Bangladesh exists.

The BNP leader said Ziaur Rahman had restored the lost democracy and protected the country's independence. “He founded the BNP on the ideals of Bangladeshi nationalism to protect independence and democracy.”

Referring to attempts to destroy the BNP, he said the conspirators had believed that killing Ziaur Rahman would lead to the party's destruction and that removing Begum Khaleda Zia would also bring an end to it. “But that did not happen. The BNP is still standing. The people of this country have sent our leader Tarique Rahman to state power with an absolute majority,” he said.

Highlighting people's expectations, the DSCC administrator said they now wanted to live in peace and happiness and regain their human and democratic rights.

After 17 years, people were once again experiencing democracy, he said, adding that the BNP must work to fulfil their expectations.

Criticising the Awami League, Salam said those who had been defeated in the past were now opposing the government merely for the sake of opposition and trying to create conditions for the return of fascism.

However, he said, the people of Bangladesh had not forgotten the history of 1971, 1972 and 1975, nor had they forgotten the enforced disappearances, killings and acts of terrorism over the past 17 years.

The BNP leader recalled that the Awami League had apologised in 1996 but had forgotten everything after returning to power.

Urging the party not to cause further suffering for people, he said acts of arson and violence would not stop the progress of the BNP or Tarique Rahman.

Salam warned that people would not accept such acts and would resist them.

Addressing deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, “If you really want to return to the country, come to the border. The police and law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh will bring you back and send you to jail.”

The administrator urged the opposition to wait until the next election and give Tarique Rahman an opportunity to demonstrate whether he could bring changes to the country.

The programme was chaired by Dhaka South City Zia Shishu Kishore Mela Convener Din Mohammad Dulu.