Minister calls Betar voice artistes freedom fighters

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has termed the martyred voice artistes of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, which played a crucial role during the Liberation War, as freedom fighters.

"During the nine months of the Liberation War of 1971, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra inspired the people of the country who were under siege," he added.

"Without this radio station, people would not have known what to do and when. Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra had played a more significant role than that of an entire sector."

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the launch of Professor Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury's book titled "Bangabandhu's historic 7 March speech and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra" at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club on Saturday.

AKM Mozammel Haque said, "Journalists had collected news on the Liberation War, putting their own lives at risk. So, they are also freedom fighters. Freedom fighters are not only those who took up arms; the people who supported them in various ways are freedom fighters as well.

"We liberated the country for freedom. In his speech, Bangabandhu spoke of freedom repeatedly. That is freedom in all spheres – including religion, culture, economy, food, and education. A section of people who use religion for their own gains are trying to take away our freedom by breaking Bangabandhu's sculptures."

Describing them as enemies of Islam, he said these people want to turn the country into "Pakistan of their choice".

"Today, we will not allow such people to undermine our spirit by challenging the constitution. The government will take measures to protect the spirit of the Liberation War. "

In his remarks, Shahjahan Khan, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and former shipping minister, said, "Our Liberation War was a psychological war. Not everyone is capable of fighting such a war. That was possible under Bangabandhu's leadership. Bangabandhu had all the qualities of a great man."

The author of the book Arup Ratan Chowdhury; Engineer Rezaul Karim Chowdhury; Harun Habib, spoke at the launch ceremony among others.