BNP on Saturday criticized the government for not recalling the role of MAG Osmani, Tajuddin Ahmad and Ziaur Rahman in the Liberation War while celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence as it wants to erase the real history.

“This anti-liberation government wants to erase the real history of the Liberation War. They’re presenting a fabricated history to the new generation,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a rally at the city's Registry Maidan, he said people from all walks of life carried out the Liberation War, not any single person or any single party.

“The name of no one but Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was mentioned at the national programme marking the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the independence on December 16. They didn’t utter the names of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and Tajuddin Ahmad. Even, they kept hidden the commander-in-chief of the Liberation War MAG Osmani.”

BNP’s Sylhet divisional unit committee on the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme, marking ‘Sylhet Free Day’. Sylhet town was freed from the Pakistani occupation forces on 15 December, 1971.

Fakhrul said Bangladesh was liberated with a dream of building a poverty-free democratic country with ensuring people’s rights. “That dream was not materialised even after 50 years of independence.”

He said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has been fighting for life in a hospital in the capital with critical ailments. “Doctors are saying she needs to go abroad immediately for advanced treatment. But the government is not allowing her to go abroad.”

The BNP leader said though the ruling party has long been campaigning about the country’s development showing mega projects, the economy is now at stake while the poverty rate is growing alarmingly.

“Even in the long 50 years of independence, we’ve failed to ensure a habitable land for our children…the number of poor people has increased. A few people are making crores of taka with the backing of the government while huge money has been siphoned off abroad,” he alleged.

Fakhrul reiterated that their party will not join the next general election unless a neutral administration is in place.

“If necessary, people of all faiths and all political parties must get united to defeat the current illegitimate regime as they did during the Liberation War in 1971 to defeat the Pakistanis. We believe that day is not far away.”

At the beginning of the rally, BNP leaders and activists locked into clashes over chanting slogans in favour of different local leaders.

They hurled chairs towards each other and engaged in chase and counter chase, creating a chaotic situation in the rally venue.

Later, party senior leaders brought the situation under control convincing the agitated party followers.