DHAKA, Dec 23, 2021 (BSS) - Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque today said conspiracies are still being hatched to turn Bangladesh into a failed state like Pakistan by inciting evil acts of using religion in politics.

    He was addressing as the chief guest a reception ceremony of valiant freedom fighters and family members of martyrs arranged by Dhaka City Corporation at Shaheed Matiur Park in the capital.

     Mozammel said: "Pakistan is an ineffective state. So they are still inciting politics centering religion to make Bangladesh an ineffective state."

     He said Awami League stays in power for only 21 years but other parties and autocrats, military dictators were in power for 29 years.

     The minister questioned how much they could develop the country. "As Sheikh Hasina remains awake, we can sleep in peace. Though Bangabandhu is not among us, his ideology and philosophy remain with us," he said.

     He said the US had undermined Bangladesh but former President of this country Barack Obama during his visit to Kenya said: "Follow Sheikh Hasina, follow Bangladesh."

     Bangladesh has achieved 26 international recognitions under her leadership, he mentioned.

     Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh chaired the function while Awami League leaders Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram and Advocate Qamrul Islam, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, AL Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, lawmakers Syed Abu Hossain Babla, Manirul Islam Manu, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Haji Mohammad Selim, reserved seat lawmaker Jinnatul Bakia and AL's Dhaka city south unit general secretary Humayun Kabir spoke on the occasion, among others.

     Singers Rafiqul Islam and Dinat Jahan Munni and dance artiste Sadia Islam Mou performed in the function.

     Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's able daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina brought back the due respect to valiant freedom fighters.

     Now if any valiant freedom fighter dies, he or she is given guard of honor, he said, adding that only freedom fighters can get this honor.

     Mentioning that offspring of valiant freedom fighter is his biggest identity, Taposh said he likes to introduce himself as an offspring of freedom fighter, neither a barrister nor the mayor.

     He said the door of Nagar Bhaban will always remain open for freedom fighters.