UNB, Dhaka :Claiming that its chairperson’s comment on the number of Liberation War martyrs is being misinterpreted, BNP on Tuesday night said Khaleda Zia did not disrespect the martyrs in any way.Justifying her remarks, the party said Khaleda only pointed out the necessity of preserving the list of the exact number of martyrs and their identities to put an end to debate on the issue and properly honour them.In a statement, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “We strongly condemn the ill-motivated false campaign of the ruling quarter by misinterpreting part of Khaleda Zia’s speech at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh at a discussion of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal on December 21.”He said the BNP chief mentioned the controversy on the exact number of martyrs of the Liberation War as a reference. Mentioning that many frontline freedom fighters are leading BNP at different levels, Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia herself along with her children had gone through a miserable captive life during the Liberation War. “So, it needs not to learn from any party about how to show respect and honour to the Liberation War martyrs.”The BNP acting secretary general claimed that their party founder late president Ziaur Rahman had started preparing the list of freedom fighters for the first time to honour them while Khaleda formed the Liberation War Affairs Ministry. He said former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka had named the main roads of the city after the names of gallantry award recipient freedom fighters as per the directive of then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.Fakhrul said, different pro-liberation and anti-liberation forces and individuals are presenting contradictory information about the exact number of the Liberation War martyrs since no proper list and identities of martyrs have so far preserved. “There’re different numbers of martyrs in different books. Our leader exactly pointed out it in her speech.”He claimed their chairperson through her remarks stressed the need for determining the exact number of martyrs and their identities so that they can be honoured properly. “So, there’s no question of disrespecting the martyrs by pointing out the issue.”Fakhrul alleged that those don not want to honour the real martyrs by preserving their list and identities have indulged in bad politics by misinterpreting Khaleda’s remarks. “We call upon them to refrain from carrying out such heinous propaganda and evil efforts. We believe they won’t be able to mislead the country’s people with such false campaign,” the BNP leader observed.Earlier on December 21, Khaleda at a discussion at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh raised questions about the number of Liberation War martyrs. “There’re controversies over how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There’re also many books and documents on the controversies,” said Khaleda.Khaleda’s remarks triggered widespread criticism, prompting Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee to ask her to withdraw her comments and apologise. A defamation case was also filed on Thursday in Narail against Khaleda in this connection. Hundreds of leaders and activists of pro-liberation and progressive organisations also demonstrated at Gulshan-2 intersection on Tuesday demanding action against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for her remarks about the number of 1971 Liberation War martyrs.
