The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday expressed its frustration at the High Court rule which said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and not Ziaur Rahman, had proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

The party’s vice-chairman MK Anwar at a briefing in the party chief’s office at Gulshan at night said, ‘If courts continue to pass judgements on issues related to history, many of the happenings will become illegal.’

He cited the court verdict which nullified the fifth amendment to the constitution. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has, however, stayed the execution of the order.

‘The truth is that Ziaur Rahman proclaimed the country’s independence. We also recognise the contribution of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the country’s independence with due honour,’ he said.

The sector commanders, even Awami League leaders such as retired major Rafiqul Islam and former army chief KM Shafiullah, recognised Zia as the proclaimer of independence in their wartime memoirs, Anwar said.

The party’s standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said, ‘The court should not get involved in such a sensitive issue related to politics and the sentiment of political activists.’

‘If the court had ruled that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is not the father of the nation, the Awami League activists would not have accepted it. Similarly, the sentiment of the activists should be taken into account in talking about Ziaur Rahman,’ he said.

The BNP chief’s aide on foreign affairs Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said, ‘It was Ziaur Rahman who had proclaimed the nation’s independence and I am a witness to the event.’

-New Age