|| Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today greeted leaders, activists, supporters and well-wishers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the countrymen on the occasion of the party’s 48th founding anniversary to be observed tomorrow.“The establishment of BNP was a landmark event in the history of restoring democracy in Bangladesh,” he said in a message this afternoon.The Prime Minister recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman founded BNP on August 31, 1978, at an open ground in Ramna, Dhaka.He said Ziaur Rahman, after assuming office, restored democracy and reinstated the rights of banned political parties to conduct political activities, paving the way for the formation of BNP and the revival of pluralistic democracy in the country.Premier Tarique Rahman paid deep respect to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, describing him as the Great Proclaimer of Independence, a successful statesman and architect of modern Bangladesh.He also recalled former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia with respect, saying that through her charismatic leadership and personality, she took BNP closer to people across the country.“Whenever independence, sovereignty and democracy have come under threat, BNP leaders, activists, supporters and well-wishers have sacrificed their lives alongside the pro-democracy people,” he said.The Prime Minister paid tribute to BNP leaders and activists at all levels for their supreme sacrifices in the struggle for democracy and good governance.He said BNP, alongside the people, had played and continued to play the role of a vigilant guardian in protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy.Tarique Rahman said BNP had been given the opportunity to run the state whenever people were able to exercise their voting rights through free and fair elections.Highlighting various initiatives undertaken by BNP governments to strengthen and institutionalize democracy, including the restoration of parliamentary democracy and expansion of women’s education, he said after the end of more than 15 years of “fascist rule and exploitation”, the people had again entrusted BNP with running the state through a free, fair and impartial polls.The Prime Minister said BNP wanted to reciprocate the people’s trust and love by establishing an accountable state and was working to build Bangladesh as a welfare-oriented country.“The people who believe in democracy are the source of all political power of BNP,” he said, adding that BNP’s other name was the struggle to build a welfare-oriented, democratic and self-reliant Bangladesh.