Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday categorically said that Ziaur Rahman himself, through his own activities, left away proofs of that he was never a real freedom fighter.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister told the media after inaugurating a photo exhibition marking the 48th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman organised by Press Information Department (PID) at the secretariat in capital Dhaka.
“BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was never a real freedom fighter. Rather, he worked for the Pakistani forces during the War of Liberation in 1971. After the independence of Bangladesh, he (Zia) had been active in anti-state activities while he was the President of Bangladesh”, he said. The Information and Broadcasting Minister also said, "It is known to all that Ziaur Rahman had rehabilitated the anti-liberation forces and the killers of Bangabandhu in many ways."
BSS adds; pointing to BNP, Dr Hasan Mahmud said none can come to power by hurling petrol bombs, burning people, setting fire to properties and even burning the holy Qur'an.
"It is not possible for them (BNP) to come to power by burning people's wealth and even the Holy 'Qur'an'. Because of these reasons, there is no possibility of BNP to come to power," he said.
In response to BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's statement - 'If BNP does not come to power in the next elections, the country will go back 50 years and it will be destroyed', the minister said BNP will go back 50 years if it does not join the next elections and it will be difficult for them to survive as a party.
Hasan Mahmud also said the whole world is appreciating the way the country has progressed in the last 14 and a half years.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, the Prime Minister of India, the President of the United States, the Chief Economist and President of the World Bank, different statesmen and the top newspapers of the world also praised Bangladesh for its development spree, he added.
It is sad but true that BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul or his other leaders do not see that, he said, adding that it is the wretchedness of their consciousness, the unhappiness of politics and the pretense of not seeing it, he continued.
About BNP's demand for caretaker government, the information minister said Fakhrul has love for Pakistan as he (Fakhrul) stated a few days ago that Pakistan was better.
They (BNP men) follow Pakistan, he said, adding that there is no caretaker government system anywhere in the world except Pakistan.
"My question is why they follow Pakistan. Those who love Pakistan so much can go to Pakistan if necessary," he said.
Dr Hasan added that various conspiracies are being hatched ahead of the upcoming elections.
"There were conspiracies in 2014 and 2018. There will be no benefit in hatching any conspiracy. The country will continue to move forward under the leadership of pro-people leader Sheikh Hasina, Insha Allah," he asserted.
Earlier, while inaugurating the week-long exhibition on Bangabandhu, the information minister praised the initiative of PID.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that the attempt to erase Bangabandhu from the pages of history was not successful rather those, who wanted to erase him, have disappeared from the pages of history.
The place of Bangabandhu is in the hearts of people as he is the source of inspiration for the freedom-seeking people of the world, he said.
Hasan said if Bangabandhu had lived, Bangladesh would have transformed into a developed and prosperous country within a decade and a half of independence (of the country).
Referring to the statistics of various organizations, he said when Bangabandhu was killed, the country produced 10 thousand metric tons of extra food that year and the GDP growth rate was 9.54 percent.
The information minister said today the success of Bangabandhu's state-building and Bangabandhu's daughter's state management lies in the fact that Bangladesh left Pakistan behind in all indicators 7- 8 years ago.
Noting that Pakistan becomes jealous when it sees the success of Bangladesh, he said the country has risen to a middle-income as well as a self-sufficient one in food.
He mentioned that Bangladesh holds 31st position in purchasing power parity (PPP) for its economy while 35th in GDP (gross domestic product).
Bangladesh is a development-role model to the world, Hasan added.