Prime Minister's Political Adviser and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi spoke to reporters at the BNP central office. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 29, 2026 (BSS) – Prime Minister's Political Adviser and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said the July 2024 mass uprising was the culmination of a 17-year movement led by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman.

"The movement reflected the people's long-standing aspirations for freedom of speech, civil liberties, press freedom and the right to live without fear," Rizvi told reporters at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan here.

He said the prolonged movement, marked by sacrifices and bloodshed, laid the foundation for the student-led mass uprising that eventually toppled a fascist regime.

According to Rizvi, the unprecedented participation of students, workers and people from all walks of life in the July uprising was the result of the momentum generated by the BNP-led movement over the past 17 years.

He said the movement reached its climax on August 5 with the fall of the authoritarian regime and  the period from July to August 5 is now regarded as a historic chapter in the country's democratic struggle.

Rizvi said the BNP has drawn up a series of programmes, similar to those observed last year, to mark the anniversary of the July uprising.

As part of the programmes, a discussion will be held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital on August 4.

He said Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will join the discussion virtually as the chief guest, while Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will preside over the programme.

BNP central leaders, among others, were present at the press briefing.