BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday alleged that the government is trying to mislead people by distorting the Liberation War history as part of its move to hang onto power.

“Those who have been in power for over 12 years in a fascist manner are confusing the new generation and people by completely distorting the history of the Liberation War just to consolidate its power,” he said.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the allegation at a virtual discussion arranged by BNP’s national committee on the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence, marking the formation of Z Force in 1971.

The Z Force was the first military brigade of Bangladesh Forces formed on July 7 during the Liberation War under then Major Ziaur Rahman.

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Mosharraf said when BNP leaders talk about the real history, the ruling party leaders suffer from heartburns and make negative remarks. “If the new generation knows the real history of the Liberation War and the history of 50 years of independence, the Awami League will have no ground to do politics in this country and the party’s existence will be at stake.  That’s why they’re distorting the history of the Liberation War.”

Describing BNP as the party of freedom fighters, he said the party has the responsibility to present the real history before the new generation to show them the right direction and right path.

He said their party wants to build a happy, prosperous, democratic and self-reliant Bangladesh being imbued with the sacrifices of the freedom fighters.

Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, one of the army officers of the Z Force, said all know Zia as a President, but he was a tactical warrior, a brilliant commander in the military arena of the Liberation War. “I remember with deep respect my commander Ziaur Rahman.”

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He said the Z Force was the first and full brigade of the Liberation War with three infantry battalions. “The Z Force was a strong brigade of the Bangladesh Army who played a very glorious role in the battlefield. The Z Force had won the most gallantry awards in the War of Independence. The number of martyrs was the highest from the Z Force.”

Hafiz bemoaned that though BNP had been in power for different terms, it did not duly recall the role of the Z Force.  “When we stay in power, we remain busy flattering the living leaders. When we’re in power, the name of Z Force was not recalled.”

He thanked BNP’s committee on the Golden Jubilee celebration for arranging the programme, commemorating the formation of the Z force.