DHAKA, Mar 27 (V7N) – Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has declared that the history of the 1971 Liberation War must hold the highest position in the national consciousness and should not be compared to or overshadowed by any other historical event. Speaking at a discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday, the Minister emphasized the need to preserve the "unfiltered truth" of the nation’s founding.

The event, held at the Engineers Institution auditorium in the capital to mark the Great Independence and National Day, served as a platform for the Minister to address long-standing historical debates regarding the proclamation of independence.

Ziaur Rahman’s Role Reaffirmed

During his address, the Home Minister reiterated the BNP’s stance on the declaration of independence:

  • Historical Evidence: He asserted that there is "documentary evidence all over the world" confirming that Ziaur Rahman was the first to declare independence.

  • Dual Proclamations: Ahmed clarified that Ziaur Rahman initially declared independence in his own capacity as a military officer and subsequently made a second proclamation on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

  • Global Recognition: He noted that international media archives from March 1971 consistently reflect these events, which he argued have been distorted by previous administrations.

Critique of "Awami Fascism"

Minister Salahuddin Ahmed took the opportunity to criticize the recently ousted Awami League administration, describing them as a "fascist force" that sought to monopolize the credit for the Liberation War.

"BNP does not want to take away anyone’s victory or diminish anyone’s role. However, the Awami fascist forces never wanted to give credit to anyone else. BNP’s history is rooted in leading movements against such fascism and restoring the multi-party democracy envisioned in 1971."

Preserving the Legacy of 1971

The Minister concluded by stating that the current interim government is committed to ensuring that the sacrifices of the three million martyrs and the contributions of all freedom fighters—regardless of political affiliation—are honored. He called upon the youth to study the "true history" of the war to protect the country's sovereignty from future undemocratic threats.

The meeting was attended by senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who also spoke on the importance of the March 26 spirit in the current geopolitical climate.

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