The Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman on Friday said the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War must not be diminished under the guise of discussion, criticism or research, stressing the need to uphold historical truth and national values.

Speaking as the chief guest at a BNP-organized discussion marking Independence and National Day at Engineers Institution in Dhaka, Tarique said the nation must not forget its past but cautioned that excessive preoccupation with history has at times hindered progress toward the future.

The prime minister described Ziaur Rahman as an inevitable character of the 1971 Liberation War, noting that although he was a military officer rather than a political activist, his writings reveal a deep and long-held aspiration for a sovereign Bangladesh.

Tarique cited Ziaur Rahman`s essay titled The Birth of a Nation, first published in Dainik Bangla newspaper on March 26, 1972, marking the country`s first Independence Day.

He quoted from its final paragraph, in which Ziaur Rahman wrote about the historic moment at 2:15 am on March 26, 1971, describing it as a day written in blood on the hearts of Bengalis that the people of Bangladesh would remember and cherish forever.

The PM emphasized the historical significance of the essay, noting that it was published shortly after the war ended when all surviving freedom fighters and key participants were still alive, yet no one raised any objection or contradiction to its contents.

He added that the essay was republished in 1974 in the weekly magazine Bichitra, again without any dispute from the then government or any political figure.

Tarique argued that these facts demonstrate that attempts to diminish Ziaur Rahman`s role in the Liberation War are baseless. He called the essay a unique and invaluable document of the independence movement.

Drawing parallels with global freedom struggles, the prime minister said only those who have fought for independence can truly understand its value, referencing the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people.

He paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands who sacrificed their lives in 1971 and acknowledged those who he said defended democracy and sovereignty during political upheaval in 2024.

Tarique said the aspirations of all martyrs from 1971 to the present have been rooted in equality, human dignity and social justice, with the ultimate goal of establishing an independent, sovereign, safe and democratic Bangladesh free from subservience.

Highlighting the government`s development agenda, the prime minister said the elected government has launched several programs targeting people across all sectors, including family cards, farmer cards, canal excavation, tree plantation drives and employment generation initiatives.

He said the government is working tirelessly to improve living standards across the country.

Concluding his address, Tarique called on citizens to pledge unity and coexistence on Independence Day.

He urged people of all classes and professions to work together toward building a self-reliant Bangladesh, embracing good values and rejecting negativity as the nation`s collective commitment on this historic occasion.