President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Saturday stated that the defeated evil forces of foreign masters continue to make relentless efforts to tarnish the country's achievements even after 53 years of independence. He delivered this speech at the eighth council of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.
“After winning the bloody nine-month war under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, we forgot the torture, exploitation, and deprivation of the past. However, the anti-independence forces could not forget the despair of their defeat,” he said.
He also mentioned that these evil forces are engaged in various conspiracies against the country and its freedom, collaborating with foreign powers in efforts to destabilize the spirit of the Liberation War.
Referring to the assassination of Bangabandhu along with his family on August 15, 1975, as part of a domestic-foreign conspiracy by the defeated forces of the Liberation War, he said, “We could not save the Father of the Nation. It is our unforgivable failure as a nation.”
President Shahabuddin said the anti-independence faction embarked on a series of conspiracies to destroy the spirit of the Liberation War and independence, attempting to erase the principles and ideals of Bangabandhu after coming to power. They took shameful steps to distort the history of the Liberation War and independence.
“Whenever they get a chance, they want to strike like a poisonous snake. They do not believe in the country’s development, democracy, human rights, or tolerance,” he said.
He added that these forces want to use the country and its people for their own benefit and that of their local and foreign masters.
The President urged everyone to build an all-out resistance against the defeated forces of 1971 to continue the current development spree and maintain the country's independence and sovereignty.
“There is no alternative to strong unity among all pro-liberation forces,” he said, adding that everyone must work for the interests of the country and its people, putting aside individual and group interests.
He said those who spread negative propaganda about Bangladesh mainly aim to hinder its development journey.
Stressing the need to strengthen social bonds between religious and ethnic communities, he said any form of discrimination against citizens is against the rule of law.
“It must be remembered that awareness, humanity, human rights, and respect for the beliefs and lifestyles of others strengthen social bonds among different groups in society,” he added.
He urged the government as well as civil society to play an effective role in ensuring that no one is discriminated against regardless of religion, caste, or community.
