Several hundred members of different pro-liberation organisations staged a demonstration in the capital’s Gulshan 2 intersection yesterday protesting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s controversial remarks on the number of 1971 martyrs.
They flocked to the intersection around 10am to participate in Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee’s programme to lay siege to Khaleda’s residence in Gulshan.
Family members of Liberation War martyrs and members of Muktijoddha Sangsad Command moved towards Khaleda’s house as well, but police barred them there.
Afterwards, they stayed on the intersection and started chanting slogans against the BNP chief.
Police took necessary security initiatives on the intersection to avoid any unwanted incident. The surrounding roads remained blocked since the morning.
The protest took place three days after the prime minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy urged the nation on Saturday to stage protests in front of Khaleda’s house over her remarks.
When contacted, Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee leader Shahriar Kabir said Khaleda would have to apologise to the nation for making disputed statement over the number of 1971 martyrs.
Post and Telecommunication State Minister Tarana Halim urged the government to enact a law so that no one can make such comment in the future.
Shahriar Kabir, along with Shammilito Sanskritik Jote President Nasir Uddin Yusuf Bacchu and war heroine Ferdousi Priyobhashini, demanded that the government file a sedition case against Khaleda for the remarks.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at a party programme on December 21 expressed her doubt over how many people were killed during the country’s Liberation War in 1971. She also termed the figure as disputed.
Her comment came only a few days after Pakistan denied the atrocities they had committed in Bangladesh during the nine-month war.
BNP: Khaleda’s remarks distorted
The BNP has claimed that chief Khaleda Zia’s comment regarding the number of martyrs in the 1971 Liberation War has been taken out of context and distorted.
“Some people in power are trying to spread propaganda against Khaleda by taking only a part of her speech and distorting it to serve their ill political purpose,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, in a press statement yesterday.
“Khaleda merely mentioned that there is no specific records on the number and identities of the Liberation War martyrs, which is why many take advantage of it to argue their points regarding the war,” the statement said.
“Different books mention different numbers, and Khaleda pointed out this discrepancy so that it could be fixed and the martyrs could be appropriately honoured for their sacrifices. She certainly did not mean any disrespect to our martyrs.
“In fact, it is those who did not prepare a record of the martyrs’ identity and those who issued certificates to fake freedom fighters who have really disrespected the real heroes. They are the ones who are distorting Khaleda’s real statement and playing dirty politics.”
“The BNP strongly condemns and protest this attempt to twist Khaleda’s words. I urge people to not be a part of this ill propaganda and believe the nation will not be misled with it,” Mirza Fakhrul said in the statement.