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Government withdrew Zia’s Independence Award from museum out of political vengeance: BNP
The BNP has condemned the removal of the Independence Award of its founder Ziaur Rahman from the National Museum, saying the government did it 'out of political vengeance'.
Published : 8 Sept 2016, 03:26 PM
Updated : 28 March 2017, 08:50 AM
The party has announced protest programmes against the move for Friday in Dhaka and for Saturday in the other metropolises and all district headquarters.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes at a news conference on Thursday.
"Yesterday's (Wednesday's) removal of the Independence Award of the brave war hero Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam...the beloved leader of the people, was a result of political vengeance," Mirza Fakhrul said.
He said the decision "not only played Zia down, but is also contemptible for those with outstanding contribution in the struggle for independence".
The Awami League government has proved that they had no relations with the “real Liberation War", the BNP leader said.
"We think the decision of the government is not only politically vicious, but also audacious.”
"This is a slight on the dignitaries who were awarded at different times after independence," he added.
Mirza Fakhrul termed the 'snatching away' of Zia's award 'the worst decision' in Bangladesh's political history.
"It will always be considered as a bad example. Such a decision against the people and Bangladesh's existence will divide the country further and make the political situation more critical and complex," he said.
He also described those 'denying Zia's contribution in the war' as 'anti-independence elements'.
"We strongly condemn and protest this heinous act of the government. We demand that the award be immediately reinstalled at the proper place," he added.
Liberation War Sector Commander Gen Zia introduced the 'Swadhinata Padak' or Independence Award, Bangladesh's highest civilian award, in 1977 after becoming president.
Zia and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were given the award posthumously in 2003 during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami coalition.
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