Staff Correspondent

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War, by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar, marking the 53rd Victory Day.

BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan along with party leaders and workers placed wreaths at the memorial around 10am.

Talking to reporters there, Moyeen said lakhs of people of the then East Pakistan shed blood and sacrificed their lives for an independent Bangladesh, democracy, and economic emancipation.

“But the Awami League has killed democracy prematurely, betraying the crores of people of this country. They have destroyed the economy of Bangladesh through extreme corruption.”

After 52 years of independence, Moyeen said 180 million people of Bangladesh have to ask the Awami League why it has established a “one-party dictatorial” government in Bangladesh by destroying the ideology of the Liberation War when it claims to be the pro-liberation force.

Later, the BNP leaders and activists also placed wreaths at the grave of the party founder, Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital. They also offered munajat seeking salvation of Zia's departed soul.

BNP Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Vice-Chairman AZM Zahid Hossain, Joint Secretary General Mahbubuddin Khokon, central leaders Mosrafizur Rahman Babu, Taiful Islam Tipu, Rafique Shikdar, and Nipun Roy were, among others, present there.

The party is also scheduled to bring out a procession marking Victory Day this afternoon from Nayapaltan in front of BNP's central office. Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists have gathered in front of the BNP office for the purpose.

BNP's units and associate bodies are also marking the day with various programmes across the country.

Earlier in the morning, they hoisted national and party flags atop the party offices marking Victory Day.