Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif yesterday warned people against making controversial claims on the number of 1971 Liberation War martyrs, saying such statements would invite legal actions.
“The number of martyrs and the father of the nation are settled issues. Legal action will be taken against anyone making derogatory remarks and trying to stir controversy over them,” Hanif told the media at the party chief’s Dhanmondi office.
BNP Chairpersons Khaleda Zia last month questioned the number of martyrs. Following her lead, Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy dubbed the martyred intellectuals “anti-liberation elements” who “died like fools” and enjoyed pay and perks provided by Pakistan until the end of the war.
At the briefing, organised to protest against the remarks, Hanif alleged that the BNP itself was founded on the spirit of Pakistan and its founder Ziaur Rahman was an agent of that country.
“Zia created the political platform for Jamaat-e-Islami after independence and BNP chief Khaleda made several Jamaat leaders ministers. This proves that the Zia family believes in the spirit of Pakistan.
“This is why they are repeatedly making the derogatory comments to create controversy about our Liberation War,” Hanif added.
