Freedom fighters express anger over BNP leader's speech at reception

Freedom fighters have expressed anger over the speech of a BNP leader at a reception organized by the district administration in Pabna.

The freedom fighters started a ruckus by accusing District BNP Member Secretary Lawyer Masud Khandaker, who was present at the event, of distorting history.

When he presented BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman as the proclaimer of independence, a section of the freedom fighters raised strong objections. They kept chanting bhua bhua slogan.

The district administration was forced to end the event quickly to handle the situation, said sources.

The event was organized at the Shilpakala Academy auditorium in the city on Wednesday to mark the Independence Day.

According to sources, the reception programme began at 3pm. First, the district administration greeted the freedom fighters with flowers, and then the discussion phase began. At that time, District BNP Member Secretary Lawyer Masud Khandaker said at one stage of his speech that 'Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fled the country during the Liberation War'. This got a section of the freedom fighters excited and they started expressing anger. After the commotion continued for two to three minutes, BNP leader Masud Khandaker came down from the stage. Later, the district administration was forced to quickly end the programme.

In this regard, Masud Khandaker said: "Those who created commotion are supporters of the tyrannical Awami League. They were on the streets against the student-public movement. They came to spoil a beautiful programme. I strongly condemn it."

When contacted, DC Mofizul said that nothing like that happened. "A political leader expressed his own opinion while giving his speech. Another audience protested against him. Later, the program ended normally."