Bangladesh's independence synonymous with name of Mujib

Finance Minister Sham AMS Kibria on Monday said Bangladesh's independence was synonymous with the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports UNB.

The finance minister was reminiscing the days of the Liberation War of 1971 while addressing a discussion meeting organised by the Information Ministry.

Presided over by State Minister for Information Prof Abu Sayeed, the discussion at Betar Bhaban was also addressed by Information Secretary Akmal Hossain and Betar Director General MI Chowdhury.

Kibria said while releasing Bangabandhu, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto put a number of conditions which Bangabandhu denied to accept.

These conditions included establishment of any sort of relationship with Pakistan and giving up secularism and Bangalee nationalism.

"But, later Ziaur Rahman and Ershad took the country to the way Bhutto wanted through changing the nationalism and dropping secularism amending the Constitution," he said.

State Minister for Information Prof Abu Sayeed said Bangabandhu belongs to the nation, not to any party or individual.

Elaborating the struggle of Bangabandhu for the nation's welfare, the state minister cited a number of historical evidences documented by the State Department of USA in "American Papers: Secret and Confidential Documents."

He said those who say that Bangabandhu did not want independence are spreading falsehood over the whole independence struggle of the nation.

Bangabandhu was quoted by the state minister as saying on June 2, 1970 that "I will proclaim independence and start guerilla action if army tries to stop my party."

On December 30, 1970, Bangabandhu was quoted as saying: "If colonial domination or exploitation is not stopped no power can stop me or my party from doing the thing we want."

"Sending back the Indian army from the newly emerged Bangladesh immediately after his return, Bangabandhu completed the whole process of becoming independent and sovereign," said the state minister.

Prof Sayeed alleged that Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia pushed the country under Pakistani domination.