BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku said, "We want to survive with the identity of BNP. Many of us have been persecuted and oppressed for the past 17 years. Today, those persecuted leaders and activists must walk the path unitedly."

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He further said, "A party exists during the period of power, but the workers remain associated with the party throughout their lives. Although dictatorship has departed, the ghosts of fascism still exist in Bangladesh."

He made these remarks while delivering a speech as the chief guest at a memorial meeting organized at the Shahid Minar premises on Friday afternoon to mark the 16th death anniversary of former Tangail District BNP vice-president Shamsul Haque.

He said, "Today, dictatorship has been abandoned, fascism has been abandoned; but the ghosts of that fascism still exist in Bangladesh. So they are looking for opportunities to enter from our midst and try to take advantage of them. Many may think that they will support someone by their side to make the party stronger." He further said, "We are workers of the nationalist party, holding the ideals of the nationalist party in our hearts and trusting the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. This is our big identity. We are proud of this identity and want to continue on our path."

Addressing all the leaders and activists, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said, "We will walk the path unitedly in the coming days. Because we have not yet been able to achieve the complete victory of democracy. We have crossed a path, fascism has fallen, but the conspiracy has not stopped."

The memorial meeting was presided over by Shamsul Haque Memorial Society President Shyamal Hor and was attended by special guests - District BNP President Hasanuzzammil Shaheen, General Secretary Farhad Iqbal, and Mahmudul Haque Sanu, eldest son of the late Shamsul Haque and former member secretary of the district BNP.

Other speakers included former acting president of the district BNP, Saidul Haque Sadu, former vice-president and Abul Kashem, former organizing secretary Ashraf Paheli, Sadar Upazila BNP president Asgar Ali, among others. Leaders of BNP and allied organizations were present at the time.