Desk Report:
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has repeatedly provided solution-oriented leadership in every national crisis in Bangladesh.
In his speech in the National Parliament on Thursday (April 30, 2026), the minister said that if we review the country’s history, it can be seen that when the people of the country joined the liberation struggle against the Pakistani occupying forces in 1971, the political struggle took the form of a war struggle under the leadership of martyred President Ziaur Rahman. When the nation was plunged into a deep crisis after 1975, it was martyred President Ziaur Rahman who took the leadership of the country through the Sepoy-People’s Revolution and played a role in overcoming that crisis.
Zahir Uddin Swapan further said that in 1982, when dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad illegally took away the people’s voting rights and remained in power for a long time, the people under the leadership of national leader Khaleda Zia achieved victory in the movement against dictatorship.
He said that in 2024, similarly, through the mass movement led by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, it was possible to overthrow the fascist regime and hold elections in the country and today’s elected parliament was established.
The minister said that the ruling group of the past tried to deal with the crisis by using state power, but BNP always believes in resolving the crisis through political, democratic, constitutional and rational processes. The current National Parliament is a reflection of that political philosophy.
He called on the government and the opposition parties to work together to institutionalize democracy and play a responsible role in fulfilling the dreams of the people.
Zahir Uddin Swapan said that the people of Bangladesh want national unity and BNP will continue to provide responsible leadership in the future as in the past to address the national crisis.
Praising the constructive role of the opposition party, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said that a national unity has been formed in the parliament to address the national crisis. He called on the opposition parties, including the 11-party alliance, to play a constructive and responsible role in the parliament.
He said that the main reason for the political heat in the country is the ideological crisis. Using religion, the spirit of the Liberation War and the mass uprising politically increases division. He called on the political parties to be responsible for history, tradition and the expectations of the people.
The Minister said that BNP always believes in resolving the crisis through political, democratic and constitutional processes. He expressed hope that the government party and the opposition party will work together to institutionalize democracy and fulfill the expectations of the people.
On the issue of the Liberation War and the July Uprising, the Information Minister said, if the defeated Awami League returns to this parliament again, if it claims that the July 24th massacre cannot be mentioned, the blood stains will never be wiped off its body and hands. Similarly, this debate will continue until the opposition party takes an acceptable position on the issue of the 1971 massacre.
The political debate on the issue of the July massacre and the 1971 massacre will continue; however, he commented that the debate will be limited to the parliament, the constitution and the democratic framework. However, he also expressed his firm stance that there will be no compromise in this regard.
