This overdue national task has to be accomplished to attain the objectives of independence, by accepting temporary sufferings and sacrificing personal comfort in greater interest of the nation, he said.

Fakhruddin was addressing the function on the occasion of distribution of the Independence Award 2007, the highest national award, on the eve of the Independence and National Day.

Bangladesh Army for its exceptional role at national level and leading NGO Brac for its pioneering role in socioeconomic development received the prestigious award.

On behalf of Bangladesh Army, its chief Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed and Corporal Md Ohiduzzaman Mollah Bir Protik while on behalf Brac its founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed received the Independence Award from the chief adviser.

"This time around, our struggle is the struggle for realising people's aspirations and dreams. The struggle is for materialising the ideals of the Liberation War and freedom fighters. This struggle is a struggle for building a real public welfare-oriented democratic modern Bangladesh," he told the function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Terming the year 2007 significant for Bangladesh, the chief adviser said good beginning of the present caretaker government with mass support to bring about real democracy and keep the nation free from corruption and the administration free from greed and evil political influence is an epoch-making event.

While paying rich tribute to the valiant freedom fighters for their supreme sacrifice at the Liberation War, the chief adviser asked for soul searching, on this occasion, as to what has been done for the freedom fighters. "What we and society have been able to do for the injured freedom fighters who have lost their capability to maintain normal life?"

Speaking at the function to express his feelings, Army Chief Gen Moeen observed that after independence Bangladesh army's activity got multiple dimensions, apart from safeguarding country's sovereignty.

"The army has aided the civil administration in improving law and order situation at different times to give democracy an institutional shape," he said.

"After promulgation of the state of emergency in 2007, army is cooperating in restoration of normalcy in the country," the army chief told the function.

The army chief declared that the one-lakh taka received as proceeds from the Independence Award would be donated for the welfare of the disabled.

Brac Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed also spoke at the function.