He said this in his speech as the chief guest at a seminar titled 'Bangabandhu's March 7 Speech: Road to Liberation of Bengalis' at the National Press Club on Sunday.

Hasan Mahmud, also joint general secretary of ruling party Awami League, said: “Today, the speech of March 7 has been recognized as a document of world heritage but there have been many conspiracies against it. After the assassination of Bangabandhu, this speech was not played for 21 years, even uttering Bangabandhu's name was banned in all the state programs.”

Also read: BNP at Mar 7 programme: ‘We want to present true history of ’71’

Pointing at BNP's programme for observing the day of 7th March speech, Hasan Mahmud said, “Today those who have banned the speech, distorted the history and tried to erase the name of Bangabandhu are observing March 7. I don’t know what ill motive they have behind this.”

“I regard this as an achievement of the Bangladesh Awami League,” said the Information Minister

Iqbal Sobhan, former advisor to PM Sheikh Hasina said, “While we are celebrating history anew, we must also remember and identify the culprits who wanted to change it. Otherwise history will not move at its own pace.”

Also read: Historic 7th March: PM pays homage to Bangabandhu

Former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique said the speech is not just some sentences rather a conversation with people who were present at the Race Course that day.

Stressing on the inclusion of the speech in school textbooks, he said "The speech was banned from 1975 till June 23, 1996. It was not aired anywhere, as Bangladesh Television was the only state channel."

Also read: MoFA marks historic March 7, pays tribute to Bangabandhu

First female President of National Press Club Farida Yeasmin said “The March 7 speech not only inspires us but also salvation seekers around the world.”

Senior journalists presented the key note speech on the issue while President of National Press Club Farida Yeasmin presided over the event.