‘Spirit of freedom still absent’

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday alleged that the goal of the country's independence has not materialised yet.

"The spirit of independence was to establish a democratic state and society. The goal that led to the Liberation War has not materialised even after 50 years," he said.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after paying homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar with BNP leaders and activists on Victory Day.

The BNP leader alleged that the current "authoritarian" Awami regime is eliminating the opposition to establish a one-party rule in the country.

Fakhrul said that their party chairperson was convicted and jailed in "false" cases.

"She is fighting for her life at a hospital," he added. 

Later, the BNP secretary general along with the party's senior leaders went to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, chairperson's advisory council members Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam, Abul Khair Bhuiyan, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretaries general Mahbubuddin Khokon and Khairul Kabir Khokon were present among others.