Dhaka, April 3 -- Chief Whip Nurul Islam on Friday said true independence is reflected in people's ability to secure their livelihoods, stressing the importance of ensuring economic rights for ordinary citizens.

"True freedom means ensuring people's right to earn their livelihood," he said, adding that a rickshaw puller's right to work, a farmer's right to cultivate land, and fair recognition of their labour are the real essence of independence.

The Chief Whip said this while addressing a programme at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium in the capital, marking Independence and National Day.

He said people have started to enjoy the benefits of independence after a long democratic struggle and claimed that an example of good governance has ...