'Fight for freedom not over yet'

People who sacrificed their lives for the country's independence not only wanted to change state power, but also aspired to ensure freedom for all through establishing socialism, said Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of Communist Party of Bangladesh, yesterday.

“The fight for freedom is not over yet as the party that came to power after the Liberation War robbed people of their dreams [of freedom]. We have to unite to fight for establishing the spirit of Liberation War,” he said.

Selim was addressing a discussion on “Mass upsurge of 1971 and Liberation War: People's Expectation and Role of Leftists”. October Biplob Satabarsha Udjapan Jatiya Committee organised it at Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury auditorium of Dhaka University.

Selim said the state should honour all the leaders who contributed in shaping the country.

He said leftist leaders had been working for ensuring people's freedom since 1947 but due to their split [the Sino-Soviet split (1956–1966)] before the Liberation War, the nationalist force [AL] led the war and formed the government later.

In his speech, eminent economist Prof Anu Muhammad said the country is going the opposite way of the spirit of Liberation War in the name of "development".

“Ayub Khan termed his tenure 'the decade of development' but the 1969 mass upsurge is a good example of what awaits such an autocratic ruler,” said Prof Anu Muhammad, also a teacher of Jahangirnagar University.

Speaking as the chair, Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said Bangabandhu wanted to eliminate regional disparity but at present “we all should work for eliminating class disparity to ensure freedom of people.”

“Capitalism is now turning into fascism but the October Revolution has taught us how to fight against capitalism,” he said, urging all to be united to work for a humanitarian world through establishing socialism.

Among others, BSD General Secretary Khaliquzzaman, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Saiful Haque, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) General Secretary Mubinul Haider Chowdhury and Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki spoke at the discussion.