Police in Dhaka yesterday foiled attempt of several hundred pro-liberation activists to lay a siege to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan residence protesting her controversial remarks about the number of martyrs in 1971 Liberation War.
As per their earlier announcement, activists of Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command (children of freedom fighters), led by its president Mehdi Hasan, started gathering at Gulshan-2 since 9am.
When they moved towards Khaleda’s residence to besiege it, police intercepted them saying they cannot allow them to hold any gathering in the diplomatic zone.
Later, they moved to nearby Banani ground and staged demonstration there for a while chanting slogans demanding action against Khaleda.
As they began another move to go to Khaleda’s house from there, police again blocked them. Later, the protesters concluded the programme there
after a brief rally.
Speaking at the programme, International Crimes Tribunal prosecutor Tureen Afroz slammed Khaleda Zia for stirring a controversy by questioning the number of Liberation War
martyrs.
“She thinks the gravity of crimes committed by Pakistani forces during the Liberation War may be lessened if the number of martyrs can be reduced.”
Suchinta Foundation chairman Mohammad A Arafa said Khaleda has lost her right to stay in Bangladesh after siding with Pakistan by raising the question about the number of martyrs.
The other leaders of the Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command demanded that all others who distorted the history of the Liberation War be brought to the book and their all assets
confiscated.
On December 21, Khaleda at a discussion forum 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,” Khaleda had said.
The official number of the 1971 Liberation War martyrs is 3mn.
Khaleda’s remarks triggered widespread criticisms, prompting Supreme Court lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi to file a sedition case against her.