BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud (Tuku) said, 'Today, reforms are being called reforms. It is being said that we are not doing whatever they say. We did not oppose reforms. To carry out reforms, a parliament will be needed, a law will be needed. Now, if the Liberation War of 1971 is denied, we will not accept it. Independence came with the honor of mothers and sisters, and the blood of martyrs. Nothing can be done without that. An elected government will carry out reforms. So first elections, then something else.'
Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said these words as the chief guest at a public meeting organized by the district BNP at the Pabna Government Edward College ground on Tuesday afternoon. He said, 'Whatever is new in the country, it was done by martyred President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Now Tarique Rahman has given a new 31-point plan. That says it all.'
Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said, 'The country became independent, but it was not free from hyenas. Sheikh Hasina was that hyena. The country has become independent today at the cost of many lives; but there is still a conspiracy going on about freedom, a conspiracy going on about BNP, which was formed by the proclaimer of the Liberation War, Ziaur Rahman. When we were in the Liberation War, they opposed us on the side of Pakistan. They are the ones who are conspiring. This country became independent in exchange for the honor of millions of mothers and sisters of Bangladesh, in exchange for the blood of millions of martyrs. Martyr President Ziaur Rahman did not want to do politics without excluding anyone. That is why he allowed this party to do politics.'
Regarding the elections, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said, "A party was talking about local elections earlier. You conspired in 1971, and you are still conspiring. The work of the interim government is not union-upazila elections, but national parliament elections. The local government is elected by the Local Government Department. The Election Commission does that. So there is no point in conspiring."
Regarding India, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said, "India is a big neighbor, I accept that. However, if you have a big neighbor next door, you see the good and bad of the small neighbor, that is the rule. But if you are a big neighbor and always act like a moron, the people of Bengal will not accept that."
The public meeting, chaired by district BNP convener and advisor to party chairperson Khaleda Zia, Habibur Rahman, and moderated by member secretary Masud Khandaker, was addressed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's personal assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, BNP northern organizing secretary Shahin Shawkat, among others.
