BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas has said that there is no justification for calling 2024 a "second liberation" for freeing the country from fascism and authoritarianism.
He criticized those who avoided the 1971 Liberation War or left the country during that time and who now wish to deny Ziaur Rahman's declaration of independence.
Abbas called the notion of "second liberation" his personal interpretation and challenged those who are calling the 2024 student movement a "second liberation" to explain their reasoning.
Speaking at a discussion titled "Spirit of the Liberation War and Today's Bangladesh," held in Dhaka at the Reporters' Unity on Tuesday, Abbas questioned the purpose behind labeling recent events as a "second liberation."
He said: "What do you mean by a second liberation? Who created this term and why?" He further explained that while the country may be free from authoritarianism, referring to it as a "second liberation" undermines the spirit of the original 1971 Liberation War.”
He added that progress cannot be made if a nation is divided, echoing the teachings of the late president Ziaur Rahman.
Abbas also warned the interim government, saying there are no signs of reform, and criticized them for failing to address electoral issues.
He said that just as they accuse BNP of being overly eager for power, the government itself seems fixated on remaining in power.
The BNP leader said that the constitution should not be treated as a rough draft that can be amended at will, insisting that any amendments must be discussed with stakeholders, especially those who fought in the Liberation War.
He urged the interim government to clarify its plans for state reforms, the timeline for implementation, and to announce an election date.
Abbas said that it has been three months since the interim government was formed, yet no cases against BNP leaders, including Tarique Rahman, have been withdrawn.
He suggested that the government could issue an ordinance to withdraw cases against BNP and opposition leaders, but questioned their intentions.
Highlighting the hardships faced by BNP members over the past 16 years, Abbas called on the government to bring peace and announce a roadmap for the country's future.
