Chhatra Sangbad article sparks debate; Adviser Mahfuj says pro-Bangladesh people must be pro-Liberation War
"Is participating in the Liberation War a shortsightedness of the freedom fighters? A failure? In defending their shortsighted actions, they have destroyed the entire 1971!" Abdul Kader, a key coordinator also said
Those who are pro-Bangladesh must also be pro-Liberation War, interim government Adviser Mahfuj Alam said on Tuesday (28 January).
"But it is also true that many who fought in the Liberation War [of Bangladesh] turned fascist and subservient. They have now been defeated by the students [of the country]. Those who stand against the Liberation War have been defeated in the past because they were standing against the oppressed Bangladeshis, and they are destined to be defeated again," Mahfuj said in a post on his verified Facebook page.
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His post comes against the backdrop of a severe criticism from netizens over an article published in Chhatra Sangbad, a monthly publication of Islami Chhatrashibir.
The article stated: "Many Muslims at that time got involved in the Liberation War without unwittingly, it was their failure and short-sightedness."
Mahfuj did not directly mention the article or the controversy regarding it in his post.
He, however, wrote, "Some freedom fighters may have become fascists, but the Liberation War was the struggle of the entire population. Just because some freedom fighters turned fascist, Islamophobic, and killers, you cannot deny or question the entire Liberation War or all freedom fighters. That would betray the foundation of the state."
His post stated, "Liberation War means Bangladesh…The student-people uprising means Bangladesh."
He began by saying, "Criticise what happened after the Liberation War. Review the history. There's no problem with that. Even discussions about what happened during the Liberation War may arise. However, those discussions should be made while acknowledging the Liberation War itself.
"For example, we can discuss Sheikh Mujib's rise to fascism. He was indeed a fascist. But, like many other national leaders, his contribution to the birth of Bangladesh is undeniable. Therefore, we must give Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the homage he deserves from the period before 1972."
'No concession to conspirators'
Abdul Kader, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, however, directly criticised Chhatrashibir for the article.
"Do you support the narrative that Shibir has put forward about the Liberation War? Is participating in the Liberation War an act of short-sightedness of the freedom fighters? A failure? In defending their short-sighted actions, they have wiped out the entire 1971! If in the future the AL wants to establish the 2024 (uprising) as a failure and short-sightedness of the youth, will they allow that opportunity?" he wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday (28 January).
"There will be no concession on the question of existence. The people of this country will not give concession to any conspirator who wants to revise history for their own convenience, just as they did not give it to Hasina," he added.
