'Declare FFs as nat'l pride force'

Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin speaks at a meeting of the preparatory committee for Freedom Fighters' National Convention at Mohanagar Natyamancha in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

They urged the government not to pay any allowances to freedom fighters through the social welfare ministry which is headed by a Razakar, the local collaborator of Pakistani occupation forces.

The freedom fighters made the demands at a meeting of the preparatory committee of their National Convention in the city. An 11-point charter of demand was placed in the meeting.

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The freedom fighters demanded expulsion of all anti-liberation people from the cabinet immediately.

They also called for preparing a list of the freedom fighters in an impartial manner.

"The freedom fighters fought the liberation war with a dream to establish a non-communal Bangladesh, but we have failed to materialise their dream," said Abul Barkat, general secretary of Bangladesh Economic Association.

The anti-liberation forces are alarmingly increasing their hold in the country, he said, adding, "The total profit of the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed different organisations now stands at Tk 1206 crore a year, and it is possible to recruit 10 lakh full timers if they just use 10 percent of this total profit."

"Our politicians are least concerned about the welfare of the freedom fighters, rather they always remain busy to capture the power," said Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin.

"It is very shameful for the nation to bury the freedom fighters with state honour as they remain deprived of all state facilities throughout their lives," said Shahid Bablu, a valiant freedom fighter.

"We, the freedom fighters, have become the defeated force in every aspect of life despite our wining the war in 1971," said Ishtiaque Aziz Ulfat, convenor of the preparatory committee of the Freedom Fighters' National Convention.

He, however, hoped that the freedom fighters would be able to organise themselves once again like 1971 to realise their 11-point demand.

Senior journalist Ataus Samad, Major General (retd) Syed Mohammad Ibrahim (Bir Pratik), freedom fighter Dr Nazimuddin Ahmed, Sadeque Ahmed Khan and Didar Bakht also spoke.