Jamaat, NCP compare '24 with '71 – BNP strongly denounces
The Independence and National Day this year was greeted yesterday with contrasting political views about the very significance of the day that marked the beginning of the nine-month war against the Pakistani occupation army in 1971. Some political leaders equated the 1971 War of Independence with the 2024 mass uprising that brought a "second liberation," with others rejecting the assertion.
Nahid Islam, convenor of the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP), who also placed wreaths at the National Memorial on the occasion, said the uprising became necessary as the equality envisioned in 1971 was not fulfilled and a fascist regime gripped Bangladesh for 15 years.
Those who are terming July uprising as a second independence are trying to demean today's Independence Day
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He said, "We believe that 1971 and 2024 are not separate events. Rather, the mass uprising of 2024 has revived the spirit of 1971."
He further said, "Those who try to present these two moments as opposing forces have dishonest intentions and fail to grasp the true significance of the 2024 mass uprising and the victory of the students and the people."
We believe that 1971 and 2024 are not separate events. Rather, the mass uprising of 2024 has revived the spirit of 1971
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said Bangladesh did not achieve true independence in 1971, but rather the mass uprising of 2024 brought the "second liberation" for the country.
"Millions of people in Bangladesh have declared the 2024 mass uprising as our second independence," the Jamaat leader said at a discussion in Dhaka on the occasion.
Bangladesh did not achieve true independence in 1971, but rather the mass uprising of 2024 brought the second liberation for the country
BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, after paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial yesterday, said there is no such thing as second independence and suggested everyone not to make any such claims.
Mirza Abbas said those who are terming the July uprising as a second independence are trying to demean Independence Day.
He further said, "Even 54 years after independence, Bangladesh has struggled to fully experience true freedom. However, he noted, "After 5 August, we have regained a new sense of freedom."
