STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The Liberation War has been politicised for so long that many young Bangladeshis are growing up confused about what freedom really means, speakers said yesterday.

They also called for a more open, inclusive, and rights-based understanding of independence.

They made the remarks at the unveiling of the Independence Day issue of Tiffin, a children’s and youth magazine, and a discussion titled “The aspiration for independence through the eyes of the younger generation”, held at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Dhaka.

“If we do not understand individual freedom, it will be difficult to understand the collective freedom we speak of afterwards,” said Saimum Parvez, special assistant to the BNP chairperson’s Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee.

He said independence alone was not enough if citizens did not enjoy freedom of expression, civic liberty, and protection from arbitrary restrictions.

He also cautioned against “We have

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