BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Rafiqul Islam said that the active presence of doctors in every BNP mass communication and program during the movement and struggle against the Awami League misrule for the past 16 years was important. Nationalist doctors stood by the oppressed leaders and activists.He made these remarks in his inaugural speech after participating in a voluntary blood donation program organized by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh Comilla branch to mark the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising at a function announced by the BNP center at the Town Hall grounds in Comilla on Thursday.He said, how since 2009, every leader and worker of BNP has taken up an unequal war with the ideals of Shaheed Zia in their hearts. They have been subjected to barbaric torture at the hands of state forces.Dr. Rafiq presented the picture of the movement and struggle led by BNP in the past 16 years and mentioned that the continuation of this long movement created the context for the July Movement, where a well-organized resistance was formed under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.He said that according to Odhikar's statistics, 2,699 people have been extrajudicially killed, 677 have been disappeared, and 1,048 have died in prison until 2023. A significant portion of them are BNP leaders and activists.Dr. Rafiqul Islam said in his speech that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has become an undisputed leader after the fall of the dictatorship under his historic leadership.Also present at the event were Comilla City BNP President Utbatul Bari Abu, General Secretary Yusuf Molla Tipu, leaders and activists of various organizations including Comilla, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal.