NOAKHALI, June 3: State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain has said that if any party or individual attempts to disrespect the Liberation War or freedom fighters, "another mass uprising" would take place if necessary.
"We uphold the Liberation War. If any party or person tries to disrespect it or the freedom fighters, we will not allow it. If needed, there will be another mass uprising. They may even be sent back to Pakistan," he said.
He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon after visiting the Birshreshtha Ruhul Amin Memorial Museum at Nandiapara in Sonaimuri Upazila of Noakhali, during a discussion with freedom fighters.
Referring to the July movement, Ishraque Hossain said attempts were being made by some groups to erase the history of 1971, while also accusing a political party of "monopolising" the Liberation War for the past 17 years.
"They turned the Liberation War into private property, looted the country, destroyed democracy and established fascism," he said, adding that another party is now trying to "monetise" the 2024 mass uprising.
He said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) believes in democracy and wants to leave all decisions to the people. "The people will decide through votes who will run the state," he added.
The state minister said Bangladesh was born in 1971 through the Liberation War, and any attempt to undermine it would not be tolerated.
"Some people forget that Bangladesh was born through a great Liberation War. That is our identity," he said.
On the 2024 mass uprising, he claimed that years of killings, enforced disappearances and political repression had created the background for the movement.
He further said BNP and allied parties had long participated in movements against what he described as authoritarian rule, and claimed that students and the public played a key role in the 2024 protests, with many losing their lives.
Noakhali-1 MP Barrister A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqur Islam, and Superintendent of Police A.T.M. Mosharraf Hossain were present, among others, at the event.
