Md. Abdul Kaiyum, Moulvibazar

Moulvibazar district BNP and its associate bodies celebrated the 48th founding anniversary of the party on Monday with massive public participation, though the historic occasion was tinged with sorrow due to the absence of the party's late chairperson and three-time former prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia.

While the day was filled with jubilation for party leaders and activists, the absence of Khaleda Zia in a Bangladesh without her meant that celebrations were closely intertwined with solemn remembrance.

The anniversary program commenced around 4:30 PM on Monday with a grand procession starting from the Central Shaheed Minar premises at the Moulvibazar Government High School ground, organized by the district BNP. Prior to the procession, a brief rally was held where Moulvibazar-3 MP and BNP National Executive Committee Member M. Naser Rahman addressed the gathering as the chief guest, with leaders paying glowing tributes to the late leader in their speeches.

Presided over by district BNP Convener and former municipal mayor Foyjul Karim Moyun and conducted by Member Secretary Abdur Rahim Ripon, the rally featured speeches from several prominent figures. Among them were former district BNP general secretary and district council administrator Mizanur Rahman, district BNP convening committee members M. G. Mohit, Fakhrul Islam, Bakshi Misbah Uddin, Mosharraf Hossain Badsha, Muhinur Rahman Helal, and district BNP convening committee member and welcome speaker Kishor Kumar Chowdhury. Sadar upazila BNP President Mujibur Rahman Majnu, General Secretary Farid Ahmed, district Jubo Dal President Zakir Hossain Ujjal, district Jubo Dal General Secretary M. G. Mohit, and municipal BNP General Secretary Monowar Ahmed Rahman also addressed the audience.

Since early afternoon, enthusiastic processions of leaders and activists began streaming into the Government High School ground from various wards of Sadar and Rajnagar upazilas. By 4:30 PM, the venue was packed to capacity, with thousands of participants carrying banners, festoons, and placards welcoming the rally.

Led by MP M. Naser Rahman, the procession paraded from the Government High School ground through Chowmuhani and concluded near SR Plaza in the Kusumbag area with a brief concluding assembly.

The anniversary carried profound historical resonance following 17 years of sustained struggle, relentless persecution, extrajudicial disappearances, countless politically motivated cases, and the eventual fall of the fascist Sheikh Hasina regime during the July mass uprising led by students and citizens. Following the conclusion of the interim government's two-year tenure under Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the BNP returned to power through a landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12 earlier this year, ending nearly two decades of sacrifice.

However, with the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia—who left behind an unparalleled legacy of democratic struggle and sacrifice for the party and the nation—leaders repeatedly invoked her memory during the anniversary observances.

Addressing the crowd, former district BNP general secretary and district council administrator Mizanur Rahman said, "Begum Khaleda Zia is no longer among us. We remember her with profound respect and miss her dearly today, as she steered this party correctly along the right path for a long time. Forty-eight years ago, martyred President Ziaur Rahman founded this party, and step by step, it has established itself as Bangladesh's largest political organization in the hearts of the people. Today, under the leadership of our Chairman and honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we have freed ourselves from 16 years of fascist Awami misrule."

Expressing mixed emotions, former district organizing secretary and current convening committee member Bakshi Misbah Uddin remarked, "We are immensely joyful on our 48th founding anniversary.