Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has emphasized upholding the spirit of the Liberation War while pursuing national interests of Bangladesh. He was speaking at an interaction session with the officials of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, D.C. on Friday. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M. Shahidul Islam presided over the session. Minister Mozammel Haque elaborated the long history of struggles by the people of then East Pakistan and highlighted the leadership role of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in all phases of struggle, which ultimately led to the emergence of an independent Bangladesh. Also read: Liberation war affairs minister meets Turkish civil society in Istanbul

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Tuesday said communal violence is taking place in the country to turn Bangladesh into an ineffective country like Pakistan. “A vested quarter, who are against independence and directly opposed it re involved in a conspiracy to turn the country into a failed state. Those responsible will be identified soon and people will know everything,” he said. Also read: PM orders stern action against those involved in communal attacks The minister said this after laying the foundation stone of Collectorate High School near Gazipur Circuit House in sadar upazila. State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell was present. Also read: Rangpur: 1 arrested in Joypurhat under DSA, 42 for arson

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has said a vested quarter made evil efforts to outshine Bangabandhu’s long struggle for the country’s Liberation War with a false campaign about the proclamation of independence by Ziaur Rahman. “This is unfortunate that a false campaign was carried out about the proclamation of the country’s independence after Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975,” he said. Read:History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader Speaking at a webinar on Saturday night, the minister also said Ziaur Rahman had just read out the proclamation of independence on March 27. “But an effort was made to undermine Bangabandhu’s struggles of 24 years for the country's independence through it (false campaign about the proclamation of independence.” Out of his 24 years’ struggle, he said, Bangabandhu had been in jail for nearly 14 years and he gradually created the ground for the Liberation War through different movements and programmes. “Who did give Zia the right to declare independence? People gave only Bangabandhu the authority, right and mandate to proclaim the independence through casting their votes in the 1970 general election.” The virtual programme titled ‘Bangabandhu, Bangladesh and the Young Generation' was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Better Bangladesh Foundation (BBF) on Saturday night. BBF Founding Chairman Prof Masud A Khan moderated the webinar. Mozammel said Bangladesh and Bangabandhu have become synonymous – a single identical symbol to people. “He engaged himself in serving people since his childhood. The day Pakistanis denied Bengali, the mother language of 56 percent of people of the country, the young student leader, Sheikh Mujib, realised that we got Punjabi exploiters after getting rid of the British rule.” He said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first thought of liberating the country through founding Chhatra League on January 4, 1948. The minister said Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won the general election on December 7, 1970. “With this election, the Bengali nation gave Bangabandhu the unilateral mandate to lead the country and raise voice in favour of them. He then prepared the nation and finally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26. People joined the war responding to his call and liberated the country through a nine-month-long battle,” he said. Read:Second photo exhibition on life, legacy of Bangabandhu begins in Seoul Mozammel urged the young generation to know the history and the objectives of the country’s Liberation War and work for materialising Bangabandhu's dream of building a hunger- and poverty-free 'Sonar Bangla'. Bangladesh Bank’s former Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said Bangabandhu inspired the young generation to liberate the country under his able leadership. ”The average age of our freedom fighters was 21-22, and 78 percent of them were the children of farmers.” He said Bangabandhu thought about the welfare of the young generation throughout his life. “He had great feelings for the youth. He was the leader who could transmit energy among the youth.” Dr Atiur said Bangabandhu was the heart of Bangladesh and this heart was torn out on August 15, 1975, “The killers had thought the name of Bangabandhu will be eliminated through his assassination. But he returned among us very strongly and will always remain among us. Bangabandhu is an eternal name which will glitter always.” He said Bangladesh has been progressing fast under the able leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina. “The country now needs to focus on skills development of its workforce to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). We also need to take initiatives for re-skilling and upskilling of our workforce involving the youths.” Atiur said the government should focus on improving the ease of doing business for boosting the country’s progress and creating more employment for the young generation. Read:Bangabandhu Corner to be established at Lovely Professional University in Punjab Bangladesh Ambassador to Jordan Nahida Sobhan said Bangabandhu was active over the issues of people’s rights and he demonstrated his high leadership quality since his early student life. “He took the country towards the independence gradually by preparing the nation for the Liberation War.” “So, I urge the young generation to know the life and works of Bangabandhu and get inspired to play a significant role in taking the country forward,” she said.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has backed off from his statement of restricting the movement of unvaccinated people over 18 years after August 11. The Liberation War Affairs Ministry on Wednesday issued a media statement revising its minister’s previous remarks.  “All citizens above 18 years will be brought under vaccination in phases. But the unvaccinated ones above 18 years won’t be allowed to go out after August 11. This statement was published in different media and Liberation War Affairs Minister Mozammel Haque has withdrawn this part of his statement,” the media release says.   Also read: No movement without vaccine will be allowed after Aug. 11: Minister Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on Wednesday said the statement restricting the movement of unvaccinated people above 18 years which was circulated in social media is not of the ministry. Also read: Bangladesh extends lockdown again as Delta variant plays havoc Health Minister Zahid Maleque said no such decision or proposal was made or given from his ministry, said its public relations officer. Read: Lockdown in Dhaka: Surging infections, soaring chaos

Taking Covid jabs has been made mandatory for public movement from Aug. 11, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said on Tuesday urging people to get vaccinated to avoid punishment. The minister said this while talking to reporters about the government decision of extending the ongoing lockdown till August 10. He said, “It has been made mandatory to take Covid jabs for public movement from August 11. Read: BMRC clears Indian Covaxin’s clinical trials in Bangladesh Any movement without being vaccinated would be considered a punishable offense.” As per the government decision of reopening workplaces, local shops, factories and retail outlets along with public transports from August 11, people who didn’t get Covid jabs yet were instructed to get vaccinated within the remaining days of extended lockdown. Read: Vaccine coproduction deal with Sinopharm ready for signing: FM The government is set to launch a nationwide mass vaccination drive from 14,000 vaccine centres from August 7 aimed at giving shots to one crore people in one week. Once vaccinated, the certificate will be available to download on the website and it will work as the movement pass for people, he said. The minister warned further that anyone over the age of 18 without a vaccine found on the street after the lockdown ends will face punishment.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is known for its traffic congestion. One will see it, no matter whether there is a shutdown or bad weather because its chaotic traffic -- still too mild a term -- is its identity.   On the 12th day of lockdown, UNB correspondents saw the streets of Dhaka flooded with vehicles bringing back its chaotic days. Everything except public transports were plying city streets and people wandering around with little or no regard to the health guidelines.   The government, meanwhile, has extended the current lockdown till August 10 amid a surge in the delta variant of Covid-19 across the country. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque disclosed the decision of the government while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday. He said shops, factories and offices will be reopened from August 11 while public transport will be allowed to ply roads on a limited scale once the lockdown is over.  After a reality check at different parts of the capital, including Shabagh, Uttara, Mohakhali, Mirpur, Kalabagan, Biijoy Srani, Badda, Farmgate, Shyamoli, Karwan Bazar and Bangla Motor, the UNB correspondents saw the capital almost returning to normal with, with an increased number of vehicles and people on the streets. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka Usual traffic jams were also seen at most of these places during office hours from 8:30 am to 11 am.

The historic Mujibnagar Day will be observed on Saturday, marking the oath-taking ceremony of the country’s first government on April 17, 1971, which led the Bangladesh War of Liberation. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.             In his message, the President said the first government of the independent and sovereign Bangladesh formally took oath at a mango orchard in the erstwhile Baidyanathtala under Meherpur district on April 17, 1971. With the formation of the Mujibnagar government, a constitutional government started its journey under the leadership of public representatives elected in the 1970 election to conduct the Liberation War, he said. “On the Mujibnagar Day, I call upon the people of the country to perform their respective duties properly in building the country, being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War,” said President Hamid. The President hoped that the present generation would be able to know the real history of the Liberation War and contribute towards building ‘Sonar Bangla’ dreamt by Bangabandhu. Also read: Mujibnagar govt played historic role in freedom struggle of Bangladesh: Envoy In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the April 17 is the historic Mujibnagar Day, which is a memorable day in the life of Bengali nation as the first provisional government of independent Bangladesh took oath at a mango orchard in Baidyanathtala under erstwhile Meherpur Mahakuma on the same day in 1971. On the occasion of the 50 years of the Mujibnagar Day, the PM urged all to uphold the country’s independence that was earned in exchange for the supreme sacrifices of 30 lakh martyrs and the dignity of two lakh women.  

The government on Thursday (Mar 25, 2021) published a list of 1,47,537 freedom fighters and another list of 191 martyred intellectuals after scrutiny.  Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque unveiled the lists at his ministry in the afternoon which will be published at its website on Thursday (Mar 25, 2021). In the next phase, he said, another list of freedom fighters and martyred intellectuals will be published on June 30 after scrutiny.    Also read: Govt to build 30,000 houses for insolvent freedom fighters Besides, the list of gazetted freedom fighters will be published by April 30, the minister said, adding that no new application for including names in the freedom fighters’ list will be allowed. Those who have already submitted their applications can submit appeals, he added. The list of the gazetted freedom fighters prepared by different forces, including the Army, has been cancelled and the list made by the Army was controversial but their allowance is still active, Mozammel said. Also read: Obaidul calls for ending divisions between freedom fighters “We’re scrutinising those who were the real freedom fighters in the forces. We believe the right number will be 8,000-10,000,” he said. “For providing a cent percent error-free list we took time, but still there might be some mistakes, but it won’t a big one,” the minister stated adding, “Today, we’ve published 1,47,537 names and after scrutiny the number of total freedom fighters won’t go beyond 1,70,000.” Also read: Home Minister provides assistance to Freedom Fighters Replying to a question about the enlistment of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad in the list, he said their names have been included as they have fought the Liberation War but the misdeeds committed by them, including abetting the assassins of Bangabandhu will be mentioned beside their names in the list, Haque said. “As freedom fighters, its their achievement, no one can snatch it from them.” He said, adding, “A committee has been formed over revoking their gallantry title Bir Uttam. Bir Uttam is honour and any government can honour anyone and also can revoke it for other offences.” Also read: 1,256 more included in freedom fighter list On February 9, the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka) at a meeting discussed the ways to revoke the gallantry title of Ziaur Rahman for ‘violating’ the constitution, ‘abetting’ the self-proclaimed killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in escaping the country. Bir Uttam, the second-highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh, was conferred on Ziaur Rahman for his contributions to the Liberation War as a sector commander. You May also like Move to revoke Zia's title: BNP announces fresh protest prog

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has alleged that the anti-liberation forces have edited a video of him receiving vaccine as a part of their propaganda to embarrass the government.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Moazammel Haque on Sunday said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was involved in the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and it will be proved.