They raised the demand at a discussion organised by Bangladesh Online Activists Forum (BOAF) at Jatiya Press Club on the publicity and propaganda surrounding the day.
On this day in 1975, amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the way for him to come to power.
BNP celebrates Nov 7 as Revolution and Solidarity Day while the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal observes it as the day of civil-military revolution. But the ruling Awami League and its front organisations consider it as the day of “killing of freedom fighters”.
The speakers said nobody now calls it revolution day. They said unearthing the Nov 7 mystery has become one of the key demands of the present time. The matter must be made clear for the future generations, they said.
Khaled Mosharraf’s eldest daughter Mahjabeen Khaled said today is the birthday of her father. Mosharraf was the commander of Sector-2 during the Liberation War and was assassinated on November 7, 1975.
“I lost my father when I was 6-7 years old. My younger sister was 3-4 years old while my youngest sister was only one year old. We were raised at our grandfather’s house amid difficulties,” she added.
She questioned why her father was killed. “Those involved in the conspiracy to kill my father must be punished,” Mahjabeen said.
Former Jatiya Press Club president Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman, MP, said Khaled Mosharraf was a patriot and a brilliant army officer.
“Zia was the mastermind of all coups in Bangladesh, including Bangabandhu’s killing. He didn’t take part in any war but was involved only in conspiracies. Zia was a cruel ruler,” Shafiqur claimed.
He urged the government to form a powerful truth commission to find out the Nov 7 mystery.
Speaking at the programme, journalist Sohrab Hasan, said blaming Zia alone for the coup will keep other conspirators in the dark.
BOAF President Kabir Chowdhury Tonmoy said clear information is needed. “A truth commission is necessary to find out the truth. The government should take responsibility to provide clear information about the day,” he said.
Freedom fighters also spoke at the event.