National Revolution and Solidarity Day 2026 will be observed across the country on Saturday with due dignity, solemnity and enthusiasm, marking the 51st anniversary of the historic events of November 7, 1975. On the eve of the day, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman issued separate messages highlighting the significance of the historic occasion and calling for national unity to safeguard the country's independence, sovereignty and democratic rights.
The government has drawn up an elaborate programme to mark the day, which has been declared a public holiday.
In his message, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said November 7 remained an unforgettable day in the nation's history and a defining moment in the country's political journey.
He said that at a critical juncture marked by subservient misrule, corruption, anarchy and hegemonic conspiracies, the united revolution of soldiers and civilians restored the country's independence and sovereignty, thwarting conspiracies against the nation.
Referring to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, the Proclaimer of Independence, Mirza Fakhrul said he was freed from captivity on the historic day. With overwhelming public support, he was entrusted with the responsibility of governing the state and leading the nation out of its crisis.
"At this moment of profound crisis, he emerged as a saviour of the nation," the President said.
He said the solidarity between soldiers and civilians represented an unprecedented national awakening inspired by the spirit of independence.
"The same spirit was rekindled during the mass uprising of 2024. The unwavering unity of students, women, men, members of the Armed Forces and people from all walks of life brought an end to sixteen years of fascist rule. Our beloved motherland was once again saved from the danger of becoming a subservient state," he said.
The President urged the people to draw inspiration from the spirit of November 7 and remain united in their commitment to protecting national independence and sovereignty.
He also called on everyone to rise above political differences and work together to eliminate corruption, discrimination and all forms of conspiracy to build a democratic, just, humane and secure Bangladesh.
In a separate message, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the soldiers and people of Bangladesh had united on November 7, 1975, to thwart all conspiracies against the country's independence and sovereignty.
"The historic November 7 was a defining moment in the nation's history, when the friends and foes of Bangladesh were clearly identified," he said.
Describing November 7, 1975, as a landmark date in determining the country's political course, the Prime Minister said those who sought to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state, deprive its people of their democratic and political rights, establish one-party authoritarian rule and undermine the glory of the Armed Forces had been defeated by the historic revolution of patriotic soldiers and civilians.
Tarique Rahman said history bore witness to how the defeated forces of November 7, 1975, later united under the banner of the Grand Alliance and, through a prolonged conspiracy, turned the country into a subservient state.
"Finally, after more than a decade and a half, the country was freed from fascism through a bloody mass uprising led by courageous students and the people, at the cost of thousands of martyrs," he said.
The Prime Minister said the Liberation War of 1971 had been fought to achieve independence, while the struggle of 2024 was aimed at safeguarding the independence of the country and its people.
He added that just as people from all walks of life had taken to the streets in 2024 to defend the country's freedom and the rights of its people, soldiers and civilians had also united and taken to the streets in 1975 to thwart conspiracies against the country's independence and sovereignty.
"Our foremost commitment on this year's November 7 should be to ensure that no one can ever again deprive the country and its people of their rights or turn Bangladesh into a subservient state. National unity is essential to fulfilling this commitment," he said.
Tarique Rahman said the Liberation War of 1971, the soldiers' and people's revolution of November 7, 1975, against subservient forces, the anti-autocracy movement of 1990 and the anti-fascist mass uprising of 2024 had all been driven by a common aspiration.
That aspiration, he said, was to build a self-reliant, secure and welfare-oriented state in an independent Bangladesh by ensuring all democratic and political rights of the people.
"On this historic day, commemorating the November 7, 1975, revolution of soldiers and civilians, which was fought to thwart conspiracies against Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty and protect the democratic rights of its people, let the resolute voice of patriotic and democracy-loving people ring out: Neither Delhi nor Pindi, nor any other country; Bangladesh comes first," he said.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the revolutionary spirit of November 7 would serve as an inspiration and guiding force in building the Bangladesh of tomorrow.
As part of the government's programme, the national flag will be hoisted at all government and private buildings across the country, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad, with due dignity.
Major roads and road islands across the country will be decorated with national flags through joint initiatives of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the Local Government Division, city corporations and municipalities.
Special milad mahfils and prayers will be held at mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship across the country, seeking peace, prosperity and progress for the nation.
Improved meals will be served at hospitals, prisons, orphanages, child centres, correctional facilities and other institutions. All children's parks under city corporations and municipalities will remain open free of charge throughout the day.
Drawing competitions for children will be organised at district and upazila levels, while educational institutions will arrange special discussion meetings and essay competitions.
National newspapers will publish special articles and supplements, while Bangladesh Television, private television channels and radio stations will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will organise patriotic song programmes. Discussion meetings highlighting the significance of the occasion and exhibition football matches will also be held at district and upazila levels.
Special commemorative discussions will be organised with the participation of family members of martyred freedom fighters, wounded freedom fighters and other valiant freedom fighters.
The Armed Forces will arrange flag-hoisting ceremonies, milad mahfils, receptions and special darbars. A colourful display will also be staged at the Army Stadium in Dhaka under the supervision of the Bangladesh Cadet Corps.
Various agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs, including Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and VDP, the Department of Narcotics Control, the Coast Guard, the Prisons Directorate, and Fire Service and Civil Defence, will also arrange milad mahfils, feasts and special darbars.
Meanwhile, the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a seven-day programme from November 5 to 11 to observe the day.
As part of the programme, national and party flags will be hoisted at 6:00am on Saturday at the party's central office and its offices across the country.
BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, accompanied by national leaders and party activists, will place wreaths at the graves of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
The party will also bring out a colourful rally from in front of its central office in Nayapaltan at 3:00pm on Saturday.
Rallies will be organised at district and metropolitan levels across the country on the day, while similar programmes will be held at thana and upazila levels on November 8. The BNP and its affiliated organisations will also arrange discussion meetings and other programmes.
Opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will also observe National Revolution and Solidarity Day with due dignity.
Jamaat Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman, in a statement issued on November 5, called on the people to observe the day appropriately.
He said November 7 was a significant day in the nation's history, when patriotic soldiers and ordinary people took to the streets in unity with a commitment to protecting the country's independence, sovereignty and national interests.
Referring to the instability and uncertainty that followed the counter-military coup of November 3, 1975, he said the united role played by patriotic soldiers and civilians on November 7 had added a new dimension to the situation.
He further said the participation of ordinary people, chanting "Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar", had strengthened their determination to protect the country's independence and sovereignty.