Greenwatch Report
Speakers at a discussion meeting on the Independence Day on Wednesday demanded establishment of democratic and economic rights of the people to make the celebration of independence meaningful.
They said that interpretation to the spirit of independence given today by those in the corridors of power was different from the ideals expressed through the March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujubur Rahman and the April 17 proclamation of independence made from Mujibnagar.The discussion meeting was organized by the Khelafat Majlis, Dhaka city unit at the National Press Club with unit president Hafez Moulana Nomal Mazhari in the Chair.
Dr. Ahmed Abdul Quader, secretary general of Khelafat Majlis was the chief guest at the function that was also addressed by Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor, GreenWatch Dhaka, Poet Abdul Hyq Sikdar, President, Dhaka Union of Journalists, and Khelafat leaders Molana Syed Rashid Ahmed Ferfous, Moulana Ahmed Ali Kasemi and Al-haj Nur Hossain among others.
Dr. Ahmed Abdul Quader said the assertion that secularism was the spirit of independence was not true. This was stated neither in the 1970 election manifesto of the Awami League nor in the proclamation of independence of 17 April 1971 which stood for democracy, equality, human dignity and social justice. He called for united efforts of pro-Islam forces to steer the country clear of the problems now being faced.
Mostafa Kamal Majumder said that rock-solid unity of the people was the guarantee of independence, but this was absent now because of differences on the constitution and the modes of holding elections. The semblance of electoral democracy that developed since 1991 was also shattered as people are expressing reservations about the fairness of elections now being held. He urged the government to initiate a process of dialogue to revolve the differences.
Abdul Hye Sikdar said that in the name of democracy the people were being subjected to repressions, religious people were being called terrorists, the the people’s right to freedom of speech and expression were being trumpeted.
Moulana Rashid Ahmed Ferdous called for a radical change of mentality to refrain from doing wrongs for securing people’s rights and protecting independence and sovereignty. He said Bangladeshis are hardworking people, this hard work can produce gold if the mentality of doing harm to others was changes to mutually do good to each other.
Moulana Ahmed Ali Kasemi deplored that even in the month of independence bodies of unidentified people were being found in jungles, drains and water bodies – a scenario that reminded only of the war of liberation.
