Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain. File Photo

DINAJPUR, Sept 1, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain today said Bangladesh witnessed development and progress whenever the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was in power.
 
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, development and progress are moving forward in the country at all levels. The government is working to ensure services to all citizens regardless of religion or caste," he said. 
 
He said this in his speech as the chief guest at a discussion organized by the District BNP marking the party's 48th founding anniversary at the Institute Ground premises in Dinajpur town this evening. 
 
The minister said, "I respectfully recall that in the last 19 years, about 800 leaders and activists, who have become victims of enforced disappearance or were murdered and their families." 
 
He remembered with respect those who were martyred in the great war of independence and those whose mothers and sisters were victims of dishonor. 
 
He also remembered with respect the sacrifices of the agitators and innocent people who participated in the movement before and after August 5, 2024. 
 
Professor Dr Zahid said, the founder of BNP, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, fought bravely in the great war of independence and brought independence to this country. 
 
Taking this country under his custody from the Sepoy Revolution on November 7, 1975, he started working for the development of the people of the country under the state governance system. 
 
"On this day, September 1, 1978, the proclaimer of Bangladesh's independence, President Ziaur Rahman, founded the BNP in Ramna Batamul, of Dhaka city," he said. 
 
The cursed one-party 'Baksal' was established on January 25, 1975, blocking the path of freedom of speech and democracy for the people. 
 
Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, upon assuming the responsibility of running the state, first re-established democracy in the country. He gave back the right to conduct politics to the banned political parties. 
 
In continuation of this, a new political party, BNP, was established as per the need of the time. 
 
"I remember with humble respect the proclaimer of independence, successful statesman and architect of modern Bangladesh, President Ziaur Rahman," he said. 
 
Dr Zahid remembered with respect the late BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who, with her captivating personality and leadership, took BNP to every home in Bangladesh. 
 
Every time the people have had the opportunity to vote in free and fair elections without fear, the BNP has had the opportunity to run the state. 
 
"As a result of BNP's enthusiasm and initiative for upholding democracy and economic prosperity in the country, the party is now the most popular political party among the countrymen," he mentioned. 
 
He said that the electricity crisis is a suffering left over from the previous fascist Awami League government. 
 
"We are working relentlessly to address the electricity crisis. I hope the people of the country will be able to enjoy its benefits very soon," he said. 
 
He said that there is no fertilizer crisis, but a group is trying to create an artificial fertilizer crisis. This can never be allowed to happen in the country. 
 
With District BNP President Advocate Md Mofazzal Hossain Dulal in the chair, Dinajpur-1 Constituency MP Md Manjurul Islam, District BNP Senior Vice-president Md Mokarram Hossain, Vice-president Khalequzzaman Babu and other prominent leaders addressed the discussion. 
 
Earlier, a colorful procession was taken out from the city's Institute Ground premises, which circled the main roads of the town.