In last major speeches, leaders of BNP, Jamaat claim legacies of Liberation war of 1971, uprising of 2024

Hours before the conclusion of campaign for the 13th national election, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) delivered nationally telecast speeches and claimed the common legacies of the Liberation War of 1971 and the anti-Hasina uprising of July 2024, and pledged to set Bangladesh on track for economic development.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman said the ruling elite of Bangladesh had turned against people after previous elections and urged voters to support his party this time. In a detailed speech focused on development agenda, BNP chairman Tarique Rahman sought forgiveness for any mistakes that his party might have committed during its past governance stints.

Mr. Rahman paid tributes to the sacrifices of 1971 and the anti-Hasina struggle of 2024. The mention of 1971 in Mr. Rahman’s speech has drawn attention as the group is known for being supportive of Pakistan during the Liberation War of 1971. Speaking to The Hindu, a spokesperson of Jamaat for the international media clarified the party’s current position on the war of 1971 and said that Jamaat wishes to “own” both the “spirits of 1971 and 2024”.

“The main issue of 2024 was discrimination by a government against our people and the main problem of 1971 was also discrimination by Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh. That is why we want to own both the legacies,” said Mohammed Fakhrul Islam, spokesperson for international media and member of the Central Election Committee of Jamaat.

Mr. Islam added that the party wishes to convey that it wants to engage all sides and turn a new page in national politics. The legacy of 1971 had been a point of contention between JeI and the BNP with the latter reminding Jamaat that its cadre had participated in killings that were orchestrated by the Pakistani military. Tarique Rahman had in December 2025 reminded that JeI had opposed the creation of Bangladesh.

In his nationally telecast speech on Monday (February 9, 2026), Tarique Rahman also referred to the BNP’s founder Gen. Ziaur Rahman’s  role in the war of 1971, as well as his role in handling Bangladesh after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other national leaders in 1975, and highlighted his party’s role in bringing down the military rule of Hossein Mohammed Ershad in 1990 and the anti-Sheikh Hasina uprising in July-August 2024.

Countering the generally orthodox attitude of JeI on gender issues, the party chief promised that women will be in leading positions if his party is elected to power. However, Tarique Rahman made several detailed presentation that will be beneficial for the women of Bangladesh. In the speech, the BNP chief said his party will appoint 1 lakh healthcare professionals and that out of the total figure of those appointments, at least 40% will be women.

He also reiterated his pledge to make Bangladesh safe for all citizens including its women. He highlighted projects that will benefit students, farmers and women and promised that if elected, his party will enact legislation to deal with cyber bullying and violence that target women. “With your support, the BNP had shouldered the responsibility of governance more than once in the past. We might have committed mistakes unwillingly during that time. For that I express my sincere regrets to the people of my country,” said Tarique Rahman.