BNP Senior Leader Urges National Unity and Respect for Democratic Struggles During Tree Plantation Campaign in Dinajpur

Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, a member of the BNP’s standing committee, has stated that the sacrifices of individuals like Abu Saeed, Muggdha, Wasim, and the disappearance of leaders like Chowdhury Alam and Ilias Ali were not made for the sake of local elections, but for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh. He emphasized the need to honor their sacrifices and to remain focused on the national democratic cause.

He made these remarks on Sunday at 3:30 PM during the inauguration of a tree plantation program held at the Hakimpur Upazila Parishad conference room. The event also included the distribution of saplings among party activists.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Zahid Hossain criticized those who prioritize local elections over the national election agenda. He questioned whether such a stance serves the country’s interest or simply contributes to further deterioration in law and order. Reflecting on the last four electoral terms, he said that citizens were systematically denied their voting rights, which has only increased public demand for democratic governance, the right to vote, and accountable leadership.

He referred to the ongoing political struggle as a 17-year movement, culminating symbolically on August 5, a date he implied carried political significance. Dr. Zahid warned against creating unnecessary divisions, especially during the month of July—a month associated with political martyrdom in the BNP’s historical narrative. He called for national unity, saying that a united people can lead Bangladesh toward a better future.

Following his speech, he personally distributed tree saplings to leaders from various unions and municipalities. He also planted six saplings within the Upazila Parishad premises, encouraging others to contribute to the effort.

The tree plantation drive was organized in collaboration with the Agriculturist Association of Bangladesh (AAB) Dinajpur chapter, under the theme “Plant Trees, Save the Environment.” The initiative aims to plant 100,000 fruit-bearing and forest trees across four upazilas in Dinajpur-6 constituency—Hakimpur, Birampur, Nawabganj, and Ghoraghat—to support environmental sustainability and restore ecological balance.

The event was presided over by Hakimpur Upazila BNP President Ferdous Rahman. Also in attendance were BNP district advisor Akram Hossain, Upazila BNP General Secretary Sakhawat Hossain, Acting President of the Municipal BNP Farid Khan, and Municipal BNP General Secretary Nazmul Haque, along with several other leaders and activists from the district and upazila BNP.

The event served as both a political gathering and an environmental initiative, highlighting BNP’s ongoing public engagement in rural areas and reinforcing their call for democratic reform at the national level.