If the economic emancipation of common people and the trial of war criminals can be ensured, the celebration of the 'Independence Day' would be really fruitful. Besides, the actual history of the hard-earned Independence of Bangladesh should be informed to the new generation.

Common people including students, people of law-income group like rickshaw-pullers, vegetable-vendors opined this while expressing their views on the eve of 38th Independence Day programme in the capital.

Most people said that they are confused about the real history of the country. This is due to alleged distortion of the history of the Liberation War by the anti-liberation forces.

On the other hand, a major portion of the low-income group is not knowledgeable about the Independence Day, observed on Thursday across the country.

Talking to The Bangladesh Today, people, living under the poverty-level emphasised on their livelihood, fooding, clothing and lodging rather than the celebration of different historic days, but they hoped that their life-style would be changed under the changed political circumstances of the country.

They underscored the need for economic emancipation and keeping prices of essentials within their means as a result of achieving Independence. Raising their unanimous demand for exemplary punishment of those resorting repression on the Bengali people, they urged the Awami League Government to note down the actual history of the Independence and other movements of the country.

Mohammad Tariqul Islam, a third year (Hons) student of Social Work Department of Tejgaon College, said, "Although we are well-informed by my family members, particularly by my grandfather and father about the heinous brutality of the Pakistani Army, who with the native collaborators, killed about 30 lakh people, but I found many things contentious between my listening and reading from the books."

"Whatever it is, we, the people who didn't have practical experience about the Liberation War of Bangladesh, want to know the accurate history of our dear motherland," he continued, "I enjoy the Independence Day function alongwith my friends every year. This year we, a peer group, placed floral wreaths at the Savar Mausoleum commemorating the sacrifices of the martyrs who had to embrace the death to free Bangladesh from the occupation of the Pakistani forces in 1971. In the afternoon, we enjoyed the city's various cultural programmes."

One Rejaul Islam Sumel, of capital's Habibullah Bahar College termed the day's programme very enjoyable and urged the government to settle the war criminal issue as early as possible.

This correspondent saw a rickshaw-puller, Ataur Rahman (24), crossing the road in front of the Jatrabari Thana yesterday noon hoisting a national flag in front of his rickshaw.

When stooped and asked about carrying of the national flag, he said that on the occasion of Independence Day, he had used the flag.

Asked, "What about your views on this day?" he replied expressing his ignorance only saying, "I actually don't know the facts but I came to know that there were fighting in the country many years ago where many people had been killed by the Pakistani military forces."

An inhabitant of Jamalpur district, the rickshaw-puller said, "I didn't witness the war but I have little information in this regard. I hope that the present government would be able to run the country smoothly so that the poor people are able to get food thrice a day."

A vegetable-vendor, Dulal Mia said, "I run my business for my livelihood. I don't know the actual facts about the Independence Day. In the televised programmes, I watched many incidents related to the liberation war. This day recalls the scores of dead bodies and how other people can be cruel on innocent unarmed people?"

Hailing from Dinajpur, the 30-year-old vegetable-trader also held responsible the Razakars and Shanti committee members for helping the Pakistani military in the killings, raping and other barbaric activities.

"All of them are offenders and they must be punished," he said.

One Monowara Begum (50), a domestic-maid, said, "I have no any particular idea about the Independence Day. We came to know that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested and then a fierce battle took place in the country many years ago while I was only 10 to 12 years old. The biman was shelling on us and Pakistani military forces were killing scores of Bangalee people."

"I couldn't remember everything exactly right now. But with my family members, I had to leave my ancestral house at Maichpara of Chandibar under Bhayrab after the bombings started from the plane. We took shelter in my maternal uncles' house more than 20 miles far from my home," she narrated in an emotion chocked voice adding, "While we were taking our lunch, we got an information that the Pak-army was coming, then we started our journey. After sometimes of our departure, the military came and they, with help of some local collaborators, set our house on fire."

Monwara continued, with tears rolling down on her check, "But when we returned after the war, we saw only ashes in the surrounding areas of our house but I didn't return there again."

Asked, "What happened next?" she started weeping, and said, "An influential person, identified as Momtaz Mia in the locality captured our plot and later built a new house. Still now, we have failed to return there. Taking opportunity of our illiteracy, they managed all the fake documents. After then, we lodged a case against them but no final decision of the court has come yet. Although sons of Momtaz assured us to give some of the portion of the land but are simultaneously pressuring us to withdrew the case."

"I have none to help us with this case. I don't know how long we will have to wait for this" she added.

Source: The Bangladesh Today