BNP senior joint secretary general and Prime Minister’s political adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that any attempt to belittle the glory of the 1971 Liberation War and the spirit of independence will not succeed.

“The people of this country have achieved independence and they are equally prepared to protect it,” he said while addressing a rally as the chief guest organised by the Muktijoddha Dal in front of the BNP central office at Naya Paltan on Tuesday (11 August).

The rally followed a protest procession that began after a press conference titled “Protest against the conspiracy to destabilize Bangladesh by conspirators” at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium. The procession ended at the BNP central office.

Rizvi said the freedoms enjoyed by Bangladeshis today are the direct achievements of the Liberation War.

He alleged that those who opposed Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and assisted the occupation forces by identifying the hideouts of freedom fighters are now attempting to undermine the history of the Liberation War.

“They have no history of valor, only a history of treachery,” Rizvi said.

He further alleged that such opportunism and political maneuvering continued even after independence, claiming that those groups repeatedly sought favour from the Awami League during fascist, autocratic and one-party rule.

Referring to a recent photo exhibition near the residence of the Jamaat-e-Islami chief, Rizvi said the exhibition portrayed events from 1971 to the July Uprising but did not include an image of the country’s greatest freedom fighter and the proclaimer of independence.

He noted that the exhibition did, however, feature Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s March 7 speech, saying the selection and arrangement of photographs reflected the organisers’ interpretation of history.

The veteran BNP leader said the spirit of the Liberation War remained deeply rooted in the people’s hearts and inspired the younger generation to take to the streets during the July Uprising.