Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said reading out the announcement of independence is not the proclamation of independence.
The Minister said the debate about the proclamation of independence started after the death of Ziaur Rahman, who never claimed himself about the pronouncement of independence during his life time.
“If Ziaur Rahman heard the claim of BNP as he being the person who proclaimed independence, he would startle in his grave,” the information minister said at a meeting on “Journey of 70 years of glory: Awami League in the thoughts of youth” at Shilpakala Academy auditorium in Chattogram on Tuesday, reports BSS.
The information minister said the declaration of independence made by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was read out by many.
"Among them, the general secretary of Chattogram AL M A Hannan was the first to make the announcement on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro at Kalurghat on March 26, 1971 and later AL leaders decided to involve an army officer, as well. That was when Major Ziaur Rahman got involved. It was on March 27, 1971," the minister said.
Dr Hasan Mahmud also publicity and publication secretary of AL said those who wanted to raise questions about proclamation of independence in fact intend to distort the true history of the country’s liberation war.
He said Bangladesh Chattra League, the oldest student organization of AL may come forward to inform the nation about the true history, although a vested quarter who were out to claim Ziaur Rahman as the person who proclaimed independence defying a High Court order in this matter.
Listing out the mammoth development task of AL, the information minister said the greatest achievement of the party was to establish a state based on Bengali Nationalism and Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina immensely changed the identity of Bengalis in the global community through her outstanding leadership, development and achievement.
Sheikh Hasina who had been leading AL for the last 38 years assumed state power for the fourth time and established the country as a role model of development, internationally.
Speaking at the meeting political advisor to the Prime Minister, H T Imam said Ziaur Rahman and Ershad were two sides of the same coin and both of them nourished the Pakistani ideology.
“Sheikh Hasina is a charismatic leader who inherited almost all qualities of her father Bangabandhu even in some cases she is even more advanced than her father,” HT Imam said.
Organized by AL publicity and publication sub-committee the meeting was addressed, among others, by Chattogram City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, Washika Ayesha Khan MP, Saimum Sarwar Komol, MP, deputy secretary of AL publicity and publication Aminul Islam Amin and general secretary of AL south district Mofizur Rahman.
A number of participants including students from different colleges, universities, leaders of different professional bodies took part in the panel discussion, conducted by special assistant to the Prime Minister Barrister Shah Ali Forhad.