Responding to the valedictory speech by Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina before prorogation of the budget session, the prime minister in her winding-up speech said nobody had the courage to go around announcing by loudspeaker the proclamation of independence at the time, as said by her political rival.

"I was in Chittagong and I didn't hear such announcement there," Khaleda told the House, dismissing the Awami League chief's statement as "untrue and misleading".

The prime minister said Hasina showed disrespect for the constitution through what she called her (Hasina) untrue speech in the Jatiya Sangsad. Khaleda asserted that people went to war at the call of the late president Ziaur Rahman.

The leader of the opposition had not initially recognised Zia as a freedom fighter but billed him as a heroic freedom fighter a few days back, Khaleda said.

"The Awami League will someday regard Zia not only as heroic freedom fighter but as proclaimer of independence," the prime minister said.

The AL lawmakers staged the walkout from the budget session to protest Khaleda's remarks. Khaleda said it was Zia who proclaimed independence.