'If Ghulam Azam, cohorts are nation's best children, where does freedom fighters' position lie?' asks Mirza Abbas

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas today (16 December) said that referring to Ghulam Azam and his associates as the "greatest children of the nation" is an insult to the country's valiant freedom fighters.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after paying tribute to the martyrs on behalf of the BNP at the National Memorial on the occasion of Victory Day this morning.

Mirza Abbas said, "If Ghulam Azam and his cohorts are the nation's best children, then the valiant freedom fighters are being insulted. Then where does the position of the valiant freedom fighters lie? This is what I want to know from them," referring to recent remarks made by Jamaat leaders and activists.

He said such characterisations undermine the sacrifices of freedom fighters who secured the country's independence.

Referring to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, he said the party had never supported peace or independence, either before 1971 or afterwards. 

"They still do not want the country's independence. They want the country to fall into trouble, go into a bad state, and remain a country of turmoil," Abbas added.

Responding to a question from journalists about whether the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 uprising were being compared or placed in opposition to each other, Mirza Abbas said both events were glorious in their own contexts.

"Seventy-one and '24 are glorious in their respective positions. There is no comparison between them, nor is there any possibility for it to happen," he said.

He also said that Victory Day this year had arrived at a significant moment, with a national election ahead. He added that such a situation had not arisen before on the eve of an election.

On behalf of the BNP and its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Mirza Abbas extended Victory Day greetings to the people of the country.

He said the hopes and aspirations with which the nation had set out to build the country after independence were later shattered, alleging that this occurred after the Awami League came to power.

BNP Standing Committee members Salahuddin Ahmed and Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP Chairperson's adviser Aman Ullah Aman, and other central and local party leaders were present at the Victory Day programme.

Abbas' comments came against the backdrop of a recent incident in Pabna, where controversy arose during a Shaheed Intellectuals Day programme after Ghulam Azam and Matiur Rahman Nizami were described as "greatest children of the nation" and "patriots", leading to disorder between activists of Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir, according to media reports.

Mirza Abbas referred to the issue in general terms while making his remarks, without naming the incident directly.