Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said BNP-Jamaat clique that gives shelter to the anti-liberation forces, patronize them and distorts the history of independence has no right to do politics in the soil of the country.
He was speaking at a discussion at the auditorium of Jatiya Press Club (JPC) on Sunday.
Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad organized the discussion marking the National Mourning Day. Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, paid rich tribute to the freedom fighters.
Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on Disaster Management and Relief Captain (retd) AB Tajul Islam addressed the discussion as the key speaker with valiant Freedom Fighter (FF) Mohammad Abdul Hai in the chair.
Muktijoddha Sangsad former secretary general FF Safiqul Bahar Majumdar Tipu, FF Sharif Uddin, FF Anowar Hossain Pahari and AL leader MA Karim, among others, spoke at the discussion.
Criticizing a comment of the BNP secretary general, Hasan said that the people think and the documents say that “you (BNP) cheated”.
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"Son-in-law of Birsreshta Ruhul Amin and the then chairman of Ranguniya Jahir and incumbent chairman Kutub Uddin both were the witnesses to the so called burial of Ziaur Rahman at Ranguniya of Chittagong. In fact, they also told that they didn't see anyone's body," he added.
The minister said that the proclamation of independence was given by Bangabandhu in the first hour of March 26 in 1971 carried out all over the country. "The then general secretary of Chittagong Awami League MA Hannan made the announcement on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra from Kalurghat on March 26, 1971. Major Zia followed him on the next day (March 27) as Awami League leaders decided to involve an army officer with the declaration," he added.
Hasan said the late office bearer of Chittagong Awami League, Nurul Haque, had pronounced the proclamation of the independence through mike on March 26 in Chittagong city after the declaration was given by Bangabandhu.
He said that it is a matter of great regret that ill efforts are being carried out against Bangabandhu to make him inferior till now after the 50 years of independence and they tried to make the villain of the Liberation War as a hero.
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"You [Freedom Fighters] all joined the Liberation War at the call of Bangabandhu not Ziaur Rahman. Even no one knew at that time that there was a man named Ziaur Rahman," he added.
Tajul said it is a demand now to unmask those kingpins who were behind the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Earlier, Hasan virtually inaugurated high flow oxygen system at Ranguniya Health Complex, release of fish fries and loan distribution program under the rural development program from his official residence in city's Mintu Road.
On the occasion, the minister said there is no difference between city and village for the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Upazila Chairman Swajan Kumar Talukder, Upazila Health Officer Dr Deb Prashad, donor of the high flow oxygen system and NNK Foundation Director Khaled Mahmud, among others, addressed the function with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Iftekhar Younus in the chair.
