Dhaka Bureau: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s declaration of independence was spread through wireless, and party leaders and workers delivered it to all parts of the country. But after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, the history of the declaration of independence has been distorted. BNP is still playing that broken record of distorting history.
He said this at a discussion meeting organized on the occasion of Great Independence and National Day 2024 at the Dhaka District Awami League office in Tejgaon, the capital, on Wednesday (March 27).
The Prime Minister said that the Father of the Nation announced the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26 before he was arrested. The announcement spread across the country through EPR’s wireless, telegram, teleprinter, and party leaders.
He also said that Father of the Nation Aihitasik prepared the entire nation for independence through his March 7 speech. As he did not want to be identified as an aggressor or a separatist earlier, he was making all the preparations step by step along with continuing the non-cooperation movement.
Sheikh Hasina said that the father of the nation declared independence in the early hours of March 26 when the invading forces of Pakistan started attacking innocent people on March 25. The message was sent in advance to four persons, including the then EPR (now BGB) Subedar Major Shaukat Ali. While EPR messages were being sent across Bangladesh using wireless, Pakistani forces attacked Dhaka University, Rajarbagh Police Lines, Pilkhana, and Bangabandhu Bhavan at 32 Dhanmondi. Although Bangabandhu was arrested, the message spread across the country through wireless, telegram, teleprinter, and police stations. Later, Awami League leaders and activists spread it across the country in various ways. The preachers, including Subedar Shaukat, were caught and martyred under brutal torture. This history has been distorted since 1975. An attempt has been made to distort the real history and bring a different history before the people.
Awami League President said BNP is still playing the broken record of distortion of history. Today, BNP leader Moin Khan said that all Awami League leaders fled on March 25, 1971. Moin Khan’s father, Momin Khan, was the then Food Secretary, who was successful in creating the artificial famine of 74. Later, Ziaur Rahman rewarded him with the status of minister and made him his adviser. But since 1975, there has been famine in Bangladesh all year round.
He said that the parliamentarians of the national and provincial councils who won the 1970 elections formed the first government of independent Bangladesh. President Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam, Acting President and Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad, and other members of that government took oaths in Mujibnagar, and they conducted the liberation war as the Father of the Nation was in prison.
The Prime Minister said that on March 25, the Pakistani invaders started mass killings in Chittagong as well. Responding to the call of the Father of the Nation, the Pakistani army opened fire on those who were barricading. Ziaur Rahman was in charge of that army in Chittagong; he himself was fired at that time. Not only that, the Swat ship came with weapons from Pakistan, and Ziaur Rahman went to redeem those weapons. There, the leaders of Sangram Parishad and the people stopped him and took him from there. Later in the evening of the 27th, the Declaration of Independence was read out by him on behalf of the Father of the Nation. So it’s nothing to brag about.
The head of government said that after the war started, our guerrillas rescued the families of army officers and moved them to a safe place. They also came to Khaleda Zia, but she did not go with the guerillas and went to the cantonment with her two sons.
Sheikh Hasina said that a leader of the BNP who is opening his clothes and setting fire to fire will not use Indian products. Leaders who say they boycott Indian products: how many Indian sarees do their wives have? Why not take the sarees from the bride and burn them? The day you bring all the sarees into their closet and burn them, I will believe that you have really boycotted Indian products. We import garam masala, onion, garlic, and ginger from India. These spices should not be seen in any of their kitchens.
He also said that the BNP seeks democracy. Where do you get it? In their eyes, the thuli of dictatorship is worn. After August 15, 1975, there was a curfew every night during Ziaur Rahman’s rule in the country.
Awami League Advisory Council Member Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Salim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Dr. Abdur Razzak, Shajahan Khan, Health Secretary of the Awami League and State Minister of Health Dr. Rokeya Sultana, Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap, Co-Publicity Secretary Syed Abdul Awal Shamim, Dhaka District Awami League President Benazir Ahmed, and others.
