"The independence of the country, achieved under the AL leadership after a long struggle, is now at stake as the anti-liberation forces are in state power," said AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil.

He was speaking at a discussion organised by the AL to mark its 56th founding anniversary at the Engineers' Institute Auditorium in the city.

"We have to think whether the country's independence could have been achieved at all, if the AL did not emerge on June 23, 1949," Jalil asserted.

He called upon the people to make the June 30 hartal across the country a success, if the government does no accept its 13-point demand relating to budget reforms.

"We have to take a fresh vow to topple the government at any cost," said AL acting chief Zillur Rahman MP.

Recalling the achievements of the party, he said the country's independence movement started with the emergence of the AL in 1949.

"The independence of the country was proclaimed when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman presented his historic six-point demand whose every point was an indication of independence," Zillur viewed.

He said former president Ziaur Rahman denied the country's independence by amending the constitution.

"The rise of Awami League means the people's rise and the fall of Awami League means the people's fall as it always stands beside them," said AL Presidium Member Suranjit Sen Gupta.

"Before filing a case against Bidisha on charge of money laundering, the prime minister should have taken action against his son Tarique Rahman as he is also involved in money laundering," Suranjit added.

Another Presidium Member Motia Chowdhury asserted that the demand for bringing reforms to Election Commission and the caretaker government system must be realised.

AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzaq, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Mohammad Hanif and Dhaka University teacher Shamsul Huda Harun also spoke on the occasion.