Dhaka, Dec 6:
Bangladesh’s Awami League on Saturday renewed its sharp criticism of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, alleging that it is systematically attempting to erase the legacy of the country’s 1971 Liberation War. The party termed the trend “deeply troubling” and warned that key national symbols are being deliberately sidelined.
Recalling Bangladesh’s independence achieved on December 16, 1971 — celebrated annually as Victory Day — the Awami League noted that for the second consecutive year, the iconic parade marking the occasion will not be held. “December 16, once a day of national pride, will pass with empty streets — no marching soldiers, no salutes, no public celebration of our hard-won independence,” the party said in a statement.
The Awami League alleged that decisions taken by the interim government, including cancelling national holidays associated with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and removing his portraits from public spaces, amount to an erosion of the nation’s foundational symbols. “Cancelling this year’s parade isn’t just about silence. It is a deliberate sidelining of national memory — an attempt to weaken the emotional connection to our independence and to the heroes who secured it,” the statement noted.
According to the party, since the Yunus-led administration took charge following the 2024 student movement, multiple measures have been introduced that undermine the Liberation War narrative. These include altering recognition criteria for freedom fighters, withdrawing the title ‘Father of the Nation’ from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and allowing statues, murals and monuments commemorating 1971 to fall into neglect or be destroyed.
The Awami League argued that this trend mirrors historic attempts by Pakistani authorities to downplay the war and weaken Bangladesh’s national consciousness. It further alleged that the interim government enjoys support from Islamist and pro-Pakistan groups, including factions linked to individuals who opposed Bangladesh’s independence.
The party reiterated that such actions amount to a “deliberate rewriting of history” and urged the nation to remain vigilant in safeguarding its Liberation War heritage.
