Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam on Saturday said freedom fighters belong to the nation and not to any political party.

“Freedom fighters have no political party; they belong to this country,” he said while presiding over the programme titled “Bir Muktijoddha Reception-2026” held at Nagar Bhaban.

The corporation accorded a reception to freedom fighters marking the Great Independence and National Day, where around 1,500 freedom fighters from Dhaka city participated in the event. Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan attended the programme as the chief guest.

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Speaking at the event, the Liberation War Affairs Minister said, “Our identity is the Liberation War and our address is ’71. Our greatest achievement in a thousand years is our independence.”

Referring to the political context, he said the 1990 mass uprising that ended autocracy and the 2024 student–people movement that overthrew fascism were major political achievements.

“But if we equate these achievements with our independence, it would be a grave mistake. Bangladesh’s independence came only once—never before and never again,” he added.

The minister also said the ministry under his leadership will undertake the challenging task of preparing accurate lists of real martyrs, genuine freedom fighters and collaborators of the Liberation War.

He added that ensuring allowances, housing and medical facilities for freedom fighters remains a priority for the ministry.

Presiding over the programme, DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam said no country can progress without honouring its freedom fighters.

“Although freedom fighters are the rightful claimants of the country’s ownership, they have always worked to establish the ownership of the people,” he said.

He also announced that if elected mayor in the future, DSCC will take full responsibility for ensuring the financial well-being of underprivileged freedom fighters in Dhaka city.

He further urged the Liberation War Affairs Minister to ensure free medical treatment, housing support and improved transport facilities for freedom fighters.

At the event, Captain Nurul Huda (Sector 9), convener of the Central Command Council of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Naeem Jahangir, its member secretary Sadeq Ahmed Khan, convener of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat, BNP’s Freedom Fighter Affairs Secretary Lt Col (retd) Zainal Abedin, among others, shared their memories of the 1971 war.