Liberation War Was Not the War of Any Political Party: President
President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has said the 1971 Liberation War was a people’s war and a struggle for democracy, voting rights, human dignity and equal rights. It was not the war of any political party; rather, it began after the people’s electoral mandate was ignored and democracy was trampled.
Speaking at the 54th Commissioning and Fellowship Day of the Bangladesh Liberation War Courses at Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka Cantonment on Friday (August 7), he said the sacrifices and patriotism of freedom fighters were their greatest strength. He said many events, sacrifices and stories of heroism from the Liberation War have not yet been properly documented and should be brought before the people.
The President said Pakistan’s ruling authorities ignored the people’s mandate in the 1970 election despite their vote for regional autonomy based on the Six-Point demand. After the Pakistani forces launched genocide and brutal repression against unarmed civilians, Bengali soldiers and officers of the East Bengal Regiment and EPR revolted and began armed resistance.
He said if the East Bengal Regiment and EPR members had not revolted in March 1971, the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War might have been different. He said thousands of students and young people subsequently joined the war and were trained by Bengali soldiers and officers. Referring to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, he said Major Ziaur Rahman’s declaration of independence inspired the nation.
Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said freedom fighters did not fight for personal glory but to protect the country, people’s lives and the honour of women. Recalling the courage of the fighters, he said foreign military instructors were astonished by their bravery when he later recounted the battles during military training abroad.
The President said the dreams of the freedom fighters have still not been fully realized even five decades after independence. He described the mass uprising of August 2024 as an expression of the people’s desire for democracy and stressed the need for politicians to engage in self-criticism.
Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he recalled that she was detained by Pakistani forces during the Liberation War. He also described the early Bangladesh Army as small but said its greatest strength was the determination of its members to sacrifice their lives for the country.
He expressed hope that the present and future generations would uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and build an egalitarian, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh.
