President's V-Day party faces boycott
The Sector Commanders' Forum and pro-Liberation War political and social organisations will boycott the Victory Day reception party at Bangabhaban hosted today by President Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife, protesting invitation to anti-Liberation War forces.
They have also vowed not to attend any state function to celebrate the Victory Day if any anti-Liberation War force is invited there.
These political and social bodies include Awami League and its partners in the 14-party alliance, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee, newly formed Bangladesh Welfare Party, and South Asian People's Union against Fundamentalism and Communalism.
Khandkar Delwar Hossain, secretary general of BNP loyal to its detained chairperson Khaleda Zia, also refused the invitation to the Victory Day reception as he has been invited there as an individual, not the party office bearer.
In October, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mojaheed and known Jamaat-sympathiser and former Islami Bank chairman Shah Abdul Hannan described the Liberation War as a "civil war". They also denied that genocide took place in the country in 1971 and that war criminals exist in the country.
Another Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah said many freedom fighters took part in the Liberation War to gain wealth and other opportunities.
"We will boycott the reception at Bangabhaban if any anti-Liberation War force is present there," former army chief Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-ar-Rashid told The Daily Star last night.
Lt Gen (retd) Mir Shawkat Ali, commander of sector-5 in the Liberation War in 1971, also expressed his solidarity with the view.
Rizvi Ahmed, BNP acting office secretary, told The Daily Star that inviting Delwar as an individual rather than the party secretary general is insulting for the leader. "Delwar Hossain has refused the invitation," said Rizvi.
The Awami League at its working committee meeting also decided not to attend the reception at Bangabhaban if Jamaat leaders and war criminals are invited there.
Bangladesh Welfare Party chief Maj Gen (retd) Syed Mohammad Ibrahim also refused to attend the reception programme protesting invitation to the anti-Liberation War elements.
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