A discussion meeting was held at the City Pavilion in London on the occasion of the Great Victory Day at the initiative of the UK BNP. The event, organized on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 (UK time), was addressed as the chief guest by the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
This Victory Day event was on the one hand an exchange of views with expatriate BNP leaders and activists, and on the other hand it took the form of a farewell event for Tarique Rahman. The pavilion was full to the brim; there was not even a single seat left.
In his speech, Tarique Rahman called on the expatriate Bangladeshis to remain united and said that conspiracies have not stopped in the country yet and the times ahead are not easy. He said, “I said a year ago that difficult times lie ahead. Conspiracies do not stop and this election is not easy either. Today I say it again – the times ahead are not very convenient. Therefore, everyone must remain vigilant and united. Only by being united will it be possible to implement the plan to build the country and build an accountable Bangladesh.”
Citing the example of the UK, Tarique Rahman said that people are not deprived of their fair rights because there is an accountable system in this country. However, the people of Bangladesh have been deprived of justice for a long time. Therefore, there is no alternative to staying united if the rights of the people of Bangladesh are to be restored. He said in this context, “United we stand, divided we fall” – this saying must be remembered by everyone.
At the beginning of his speech, he expressed gratitude to the expatriates and requested the leaders and workers to remain calm at various times. Asking for prayers from everyone, he said that he will return to the country on December 25. At the same time, he sought prayers for the leader of the country, Begum Khaleda Zia.
At that time, he made a special request to the leaders and activists present, saying, “Please, no one should go to the airport on the day of my return to the country on December 25. Going to the airport will create a commotion and it may tarnish the reputation of the country and the party.” He also said that those who keep this request of his, he will assume that they prioritize the honor of the party and the country.
At the end of the program, a one and a half minute video was shown, which highlighted the liberation war of 1971 to the recent mass uprising and the determination to build a new Bangladesh.
In his speech, Tarique Rahman presented his “nation-building plan” with the aim of building a happy and prosperous state. It includes various issues including family cards, farmers’ cards, health cards, and unemployment reduction.
Regarding the upcoming elections, he said, this is not an experiment or experience, but an opportunity for a big change. This opportunity must be utilized honestly. Addressing the expatriates, he said that just as they played a role in the movement, it is now a big responsibility to help elect the right party.
Mentioning the contribution of the expatriates, Tarique Rahman said that the role of the expatriates in the anti-dictatorship movement was very important and there is no room for belittling this contribution in any way.
