Many things said in a frenzy of rage but those are nothing but lies: Mirza Fakhrul

Indicating ruling Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said, “No doubt you have a huge contribution in the Liberation War. We do not deny that but at the same time we cannot accept if you deny the contributions of the main hero of the liberation.”

He also said people fought through so many hardships in the nine months during the Liberation War, more than 10 million people took shelter in the neighbouring country as refugees, and a huge number of women were raped. But, nowadays those things are not beings mentioned.

The BNP leader said this at a discussion, organised at the National Press Club on Tuesday afternoon as part of the party’s programmes to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Liberation War.

Criticising prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s statement that Ziaur Rahman took part in 25, 26 March 1971 genocide in Chattogram as a Pakistani army officer, the BNP secretary general said, “The head of the government has said many things in a frenzy of rage but those are nothing but lies. Because, what she said, she won’t be able to show any historical evidence.”

Joining a programme virtually from her official Gonobhaban residence in the capital, the prime minister on 8 March said that the leaders of the BNP would not realise the language and essence of the historic 7 March speech as the party was formed by military dictator Ziaur Rahman who had killed the Father of the Nation and grabbed power violating the country’s Constitution and took part in the genocide on 25 and 26 March in 1971 as a Pakistani army officer.

“Someone said today that Ziaur Rahman took part in the genocide on 25 and 26 March in 1971. This is nothing but preposterous,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Indicating the ruling party leaders, the BNP secretary general further said, “We want to say it clearly that we want to inform the future generation about whatever contributions whoever have in the Liberation War. And that’s why you have started getting offended. You are talking incoherent like a outrageous person. Those do not contain even an iota of truth.”

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain joined the programme as the president. He said, “Awami League started feeling prickly since we announced to mark the 7 March. Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader first welcomed us, later he said that was our hypocrisy.”

Khandaker Mosharraf also said in his book ‘Lakhya Praner Binimoye’ AL leader Major (retd.) Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam, MP, has written that the soldiers 20 Baluch regiment (of Pakistan army) killed 1,000 Bangalees in Chittagong cantonment on 25 March 1971. At that time Major Rafiqul Islam of East Pakistan Rifles) and Major Ziaur Rahman of 8 East Bengal Regiment were taking preparations for insurrection.

Professor Mahbub Ullah, chairman of a faction of Jatiya party Mostofa Jamal Haider, BNP standing committee meber Iqbal Hsan Mahmud and party chairperson’s advisory council member Abdus Salam also addressed the programme.

The discussants also mentioned Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani as the ‘first visionary’ of Liberation.