Dhaka:The slogans 'Long Live the Sepoy Revolution, Long Live General Zia' echoed through the streets of Nayapaltan in the capital today, reviving memories of the events of November 7, 1975. A historic rally marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day turned Nayapaltan and its adjoining areas into a sea of people, with thousands of BNP leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens joining the program. BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the rally.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, amid the party slogans and anti-fascist chants, a group of elderly people in front of Jonaki Cinema Hall caught attention as they chanted slogans recalling the Sepoy Revolution and the role of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. 'Sepoys and people are brothers, we want Zia's release' and 'Long Live the Sepoy Revolution, Long Live General Zia' were among the slogans they chanted.
The uprising began in Dhaka Cantonment on the night of November 6 and continued into the early hours of November 7. Before the uprising, then Army Chief Ziaur Rahman had been placed under house arrest amid a period of political and military uncertainty. On November 7, rebellious soldiers went to Ziaur Rahman's residence and freed him from house arrest, leading to soldiers and civilians taking to the streets of Dhaka.
Humayun Kabir, a 74-year-old participant in the rally, shared his memories of the events, recalling how he and his classmates from Shahbagh joined the processions, climbing onto army tanks and chanting slogans as they moved through the streets. The uprising brought an end to the military coup initiated on November 3 under the leadership of Khaled Mosharraf, reflecting growing discontent within the army and wider political tensions in the country.
The slogans of November 7 were not merely expressions of anger or demands for Ziaur Rahman's release. They also reflected the solidarity between soldiers and civilians, capturing the aspirations, unrest, and political sentiments of the time. The events remain a significant chapter in Bangladesh's political history and are commemorated as National Revolution and Solidarity Day.