Foreign Minister and Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud has doubted whether the individuals and organizations like BNP that don’t observe the historic March 7 really believe in independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.  

“History of Bangladesh and independence cannot be fulfilled without March 7. So, those who do not believe or practice it, I doubt whether they really believe in independence,” he said.

The foreign minister made the remarks to journalists after the Awami League paid floral tributes to the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32 marking the Historic March seven on Thursday.  

The foreign minister said that Bangabandhu in fact called for independence on March 7 in 1971 and he made the announcement.

Hasan Mahmud said.  “On that day, the Pakistan Intelligence Agency sent a report to Rawalpindi from Dhaka — ‘The clever Sheikh Mujib has practically declared the independence of East Pakistan. But we had nothing to do but watch.”