The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) observed National Revolution and Solidarity Day with elaborate programmes across the country on Saturday, the first time the day was celebrated at the state level since the party came to power through the February 12 parliamentary election.

After 17 years of what it described as authoritarian rule, followed by an interim government, the BNP-led government assumed office under the leadership of Tarique Rahman following the election.

For the first time, the day is being observed with state-level programmes, with the BNP-led government declaring it a public holiday.

The party marked the occasion with rallies and various programmes across the country, with Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman leading the central procession titled “National Revolution and Solidarity Day Sovereignty rally”,

in Dhaka. It was his first participation in a BNP rally since returning to the country and his first such appearance as the party's chairman.

Since his return to Bangladesh on December 25, 2025, after spending 17 years in exile in London, Tarique has addressed several public meetings and rallies, both before the election and after assuming office as Prime Minister.

On Saturday, he walked alongside party leaders and activists for nearly six kilometres from Nayapaltan to Manik Mia Avenue, leading a colourful procession marking the 51st anniversary of the historic events of November 7, 1975.

The procession started in front of the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan at 3:30pm, following a brief speech by Tarique, and reached Manik Mia Avenue around 4:30pm after passing through several major roads in the capital.

The entire Paltan area turned festive with the presence of leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate and affiliated organisations including Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, Krishak Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal.

Among the senior BNP leaders who accompanied Tarique were Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, AZM Zahid Hossain and Amanullah Aman; Vice-Chairman Nurul Islam Moni; Advisory Council member Zahir Uddin Swapan; Joint Secretaries General Khairul Kabir Khokon and Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel; Treasurer Rashiduzzaman Millat; and Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, among others.

Earlier, Tarique arrived on a temporary stage set up in front of the BNP central office around 3pm and delivered a brief speech before inaugurating the procession.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, AZM Zahid Hossain and Farhad Halim Donar, and Vice-Chairman Ahmed Azam Khan were among the leaders present on the stage.

Party leaders and activists began gathering in Nayapaltan in small processions from noon. Thousands of leaders, activists and supporters thronged the area stretching from Kakrail intersection to Fakirerpool, turning the area into a sea of people.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister attended a grand gathering of village police Force (Gram Police Force) at the National Parade Ground in the capital, organised to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Before that, he joined a programme at the Army Stadium in Banani, Dhaka, marking the historic November 7 occasion.

The Armed Forces arranged various programmes, including flag hoisting, milad mahfils, receptions and special darbars. A colourful display was also held at the Army Stadium under the supervision of the Bangladesh Cadet Corps.

Organised under the directives of the Ministry of Defence and the supervision of the Armed Forces, the special display featured 3,000 cadets of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and 500 members of Bangladesh Scouts.

The Army Chief, Air Chief, cabinet members, members of parliament, senior government officials and diplomats and ambassadors from different countries attended the programme.

Various agencies under the Home Ministry, including Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar and VDP, the Department of Narcotics Control, Coast Guard, Prisons Directorate and Fire Service and Civil Defence, also arranged milad mahfils, feasts and special darbars.

Earlier in the morning, Tarique paid homage to the graves of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and the party's former chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

He placed wreaths at their graves at 8:30am to mark the day.

Meanwhile, the ruling BNP observed the day as part of a seven-day programme from November 5 to 11.

As part of the programme, national and party flags were hoisted at 6am on Saturday at the party's central office and its offices across the country.

Alongside the central programme in Dhaka, rallies were organised at district and metropolitan levels across the country on Saturday. Rallies will also be held at thana and upazila levels on November 8. The BNP and its affiliated organisations have arranged discussion meetings and other programmes as part of the observance.

As part of the government programme, improved diets were served to inmates and residents of hospitals, prisons, orphanages, child centres, Shishu Paribars, Shishu Sadans, juvenile correction centres, Shanti Nibash facilities and institutions for vagrants.

Children were allowed free entry to parks throughout the day under the management of city corporations and municipalities.

Educational institutions arranged special discussions and essay competitions to mark the occasion.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting took initiatives to publish special articles and literary and commemorative supplements in national newspapers.

Documentary films were screened at cinema halls and through mobile vans, while football matches were organised at district headquarters and upazilas.

A special commemorative discussion was also organised with the participation of family members of martyred freedom fighters, war-wounded freedom fighters and valiant freedom fighters.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway remained toll-free for all vehicles from 6am to 12 noon on Saturday, allowing motorists to use the facility without paying tolls during the six-hour period.