Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ahmed Azam Khan has warned that equating the 2024 mass uprising with Bangladesh’s independence could result in a “major disaster,” stressing that the country’s independence occurred only once.
Speaking at a reception organized by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in honour of freedom fighters on the occasion of Independence Day, Azam Khan underscored the significance of the 1971 Liberation War as the foundation of Bangladesh.
“The 1990 mass uprising was a major accomplishment that led to the fall of autocracy. Similarly, through the 2024 student-led uprising, we overthrew fascism. These are significant achievements that we honour and respect in an independent country. But equating these achievements with independence itself would be a grave mistake,” he said.
The minister added, “Our foundation is the Liberation War of 1971. As those who fought for this great independence, I want to affirm that Bangladesh’s independence has come only once, it had never come before, and it will never come again. I believe our greatest achievement in a thousand years is our independence.”
The minister also highlighted ongoing challenges in maintaining accurate records of true martyrs, verified freedom fighters, and opponents of the Liberation War. He emphasized that ensuring freedom fighters’ salaries, housing, and medical benefits remains a top priority for the ministry.
