
SAGASAD BHABAN: Awami League lawmakers on Thursday blasted former Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (Retd) AK Khondaker for "distorting historic facts" in his book "Bairey" (1971: Inside and Outside) that induced huge controversy in parliament.
Taking the floor on point of order, the ruling party lawmakers vehemently proteted some contents of the book on the historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation and the great War of Liberation and demanded banning the book.
They said that AK Khondaker has created the controversy in a bid to divide the nation and confuse the people about our Great War of Liberation and the March 7 speech of the father of the nation.
The book published by Prothoma Prokashon reads in the first chapter that "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman concluded his historic March 7 speech in 1971 by saying "Joy Pakistan".
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said the distortion of facts is not only a threat to a particular persons or a party rather its a threat to the entire nation.
He said nobody should distort historic facts for his personal interest as it goes against the country's independence and sovereignty. He demanded banning of the book, which has not written on the basis on historic facts and documents.
Refuting AK Khondakar's remarks in the book, Tofail Ahamed said it is historic fact that Bangabandhu in his March 7 speech has concluded by saying "Joy Bangla".
He said the claim of AK Khondaker in this regard is baseless and motivated.
He said AK Khondaker knew very little about the historic events took place in the country before 1971 as he was in Pakistan from 1951-69 as a member of Pakistan army. Tofail asked Khandakar to withdraw his comment and seek apology to the nation for distortion historic facts.
Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said it is historic fact that Bangladesh means Bangabandhu. He said AK Khondaker has distorted historic facts and violated the country's constitution by giving such misleading information on Bangabandhu," he added.
"AK Khondker has violated the constitution. He should be tried on charge of sedition. I am in doubt whether he wrote the book by taking huge amount of money from any agency," he said.
Selim demanded banning of the book for the sake of preserving historic facts of the country.
Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Mia said it does not matter what a controversial person in the Mustaque cabinet says about Bangabandhu. "It is a historic truth that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the father of the nation and Banglaesh means Bangabandhu," he added.
Earlier, lawmaker and former Information Minister Abul kalam Azad raised the issue in the House by taking floor on a point of order.
Among others, Jatiya Party lawnaker Kazi Feroz Rashid, Maj (Retd) Rafiqul Islam and JSD lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal also took part in the discussion.
BSS/ZA