Interview: You can say 'there is no freedom of speech', it's democracy

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said democracy and election could not come to a fair system yet as anti-liberation forces are active politically and economically. 

In an exclusive interview with country's one of the most popular online news portal Jago News, he talked on Bangabandhu's dreams and Bangladesh's going forward. 

Jago News: 'Mujib Borsho' has been announced on the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of the nation. And Bangladesh is also in its 50 years of independenceo. How you evaluate Bangabandhu's dreams and Bangladesh?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: Bangladesh was the dream of Bangabandhu. He is such a  leader who dreamt and implemented so. It's rare for anyone to turn a democratic movement into armed one but could do it.

We had been stopped reaching the goal and dream with these we started our journey. A coming to a stop history grew on August 15, 1975. On the day, the whole nation was killed with assassination Bangabandhu and his nears and dears. 

Sceneraio of Bangladesh has changed in a night following murder of Bangabandhu. Spirit of Liberation War, progress and development went to opposite direction. Economic system was distorted halting pace of development.  History of the country was distorted. But today's Bangladesh proved that truth and beauty cannot be covered. 

Today the nation is advancing to implement an independent and sovereign country what Bangabandhu dreamt. 

Jago News: You said Bangladesh's moving forward. But there are huge discussions and criticisms on people's freedom, democracy, election, and freedom of speech in 50 years of Bangladesh....

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: Criticism means democracy and it brings fulfillment in. There is no freedom of speech- you can utter so, democracy is here.

I agree with you that meaningful election does not prevail here. It's first needed to find out reasons behind it. 

Jago News: What are the reasons behind this you think? 

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: Because war criminals and anti-independence forces still now take part in election. Though Nazi forces' followers in Germany cannot race election but the killers, rapists and plunderous during liberation war or their followers can do politics or participate in election in Bangladesh. 

Jago News: Anti-liberation forces and war criminals can take part in election, whose failure is this?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: This failure is of the whole nation. The war criminals had been rehabilitated socially and politically after 1975. Razakars were made ministrers. Bangladesh's economy has been handed at their hands. 

Bangladesh's economy has not come at the hands of pro-liberation force yet. Economy and politics walks parallelly. You cannot hold a fair election and hope democracy with the economy which is at the hands of the anti-liberation forces. Our fight is on to take back whole economic system in favour of the pro-liberation forces. 

We will continue our fight until Bangladesh's politics, society, economy, education and culture turn into spirit of the liberation war. 

Jago News: Anti-liberation forces brought a change in politics following Bangabandhu's assassination. But why Awami League could not make another alternative force despite staying in power for long?

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: Anti-liberation forces captured power just three-and-half-year after the independence. Then, they governed the country for 21 consecutive years.

We got a fragile economy in a devastated country through liberation war. A devastated a country. Bangabandhu just stepped up stairs placing a foundation. But he was murdered. 

Then all overturned. The foundation placed by Bangabandhu was broken down and the country was governmed with different planns. 

You cannot destroy the base of the anti-liberation forces overnight if you wish. It will take time. 

Jago News: Had it not been possible due to politics of compromise? 

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury: If you want an instant solution, have to choose the path as genocide happened during liberation war. But we will not walk to the way.

Bangabandhu wanted to make the country unitedly, that is why he declared general amnesty. He arranged trial only for identified war criminals but pardoned rest all.

We are trying to walk in the way in which Bangabandhu ruled it. We can feel happiness of actual independence in 2041. Now this is our target.