Govt will identify Liberation War battlefields: Ishraque

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain on Friday said the government will identify Liberation War battlefields across the country, preserve their history and build memorials where possible.

He made the remarks after visiting a Liberation War battlefield on the bank of the Dhaleshwari River at Fulhar village in Saidpur Union of Sirajdikhan Upazila in Munshiganj.

Talking to reporters, Ishraque said the ministry will collect information from heroic freedom fighters and eyewitnesses, record and document the battlefields, and examine the feasibility of constructing necessary structures or memorials.

He said the ministry has received information about three Liberation War battlefields in Saidpur, and one of them has already been inspected.

Highlighting the importance of preserving the country's history, the State Minister said the great Liberation War of 1971 laid the foundation for the establishment of Bangladesh.

"Therefore, it is very important to preserve this history for future generations," he said.

Replying to a question on whether Saidpur was being given special importance, Ishraque said the government would give equal priority to preserving all Liberation War sites across the country.

However, he said he has a personal emotional attachment to Saidpur because it is the home of his ancestors. He added that his father was a heroic freedom fighter and that his family's memories include crossing the Dhaleshwari River by swimming to join the Liberation War. Despite that emotional connection, Ishraque said that as State Minister he would work equally to preserve places associated with the Liberation War throughout the country.