Photo: BSS

By Rumana Zaman

DHAKA, March 25, 2025 (BSS) – Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku has said that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s declaration of independence was essentially the call that formally initiated the Liberation War across the country.

“Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s declaration of independence was, in essence, the call to the Liberation War. Through this call, the ‘people’s war’ formally began across the country, uniting farmers, workers and ordinary people in a single thread, he told in an exclusive interview with BSS at his office at the Secretariat today.

Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, also Standing Committee Member of Bangladesh Nationalist’ Party (BNP), highlighted the significance of the declaration at a time of extreme uncertainty in 1971.

Recalling the night of March 25, Tuku, also a freedom fighter, said the Pakistani occupation forces launched a brutal genocide across the country under “Operation Searchlight,” turning Dhaka into a city gripped by fear and devastation. People were left confused and panicked, with many leaving the city in search of safety.

He said that at such a moment, while walking towards Narsingdi, he witnessed a historic turning point when people gathered around a transistor radio at a roadside tea stall. From Kalurghat radio station in Chattogram came the voice of Ziaur Rahman declaring independence, which instantly changed the situation.

Tuku said the announcement instilled immense courage among the people, replacing despair with renewed determination. “People believed that since Bengali soldiers had revolted and joined the war, it was possible to resist the Pakistani army,” he said, adding that the declaration inspired people to join the war.

He said the declaration of Ziaur Rahman cannot be ignored in writing the history of Bangladesh’s independence, as it served as a beacon of hope for the people at a critical juncture.

Tuku emphasized that the Liberation War was not the monopoly of any single political party but a true people’s war, where farmers, workers and common people took part with utmost courage and sacrifice.

He described Ziaur Rahman as a brave warrior who not only made the declaration but also fought on the battlefield, with his contributions remaining an integral part of the nation’s history.

Tuku also said Ziaur Rahman emerged as a leader during national crises and that his role in 1971 and later in 1975 during Sipahi-Janata Biplob (People-solder uprising) reflected the necessity of history.

He said attempts made over the years to deny Ziaur Rahman’s contribution constitute a disgraceful chapter in history. He said Sheikh Hasina-led government, by trying to portray the Liberation War as the property of a single party, had questioned historical truths and caused significant damage over the past 54 years.

He added that failure to accord due recognition to all contributors reflects deep ingratitude and fuels controversy surrounding the Liberation War, which, he said, is painful for freedom fighters. Tuku said the BNP has never considered the Liberation War as belonging to any particular party, describing it as a universal war.