"The struggle for independence is a long-drawn process and it has now been passed onto another dimension and level. Today's struggle is against illiteracy, malnutrition, ill health and poverty," she said.

Khaleda was addressing a function on the occasion of distribution of Independence Award 2006 at the Osmani Memorial auditorium.

She said the present struggle is a struggle for establishing social justice and the rule of law to ensure social security and peace by defeating all kinds of terrorism.

"We have to continue this struggle to face the challenges of the new century, overcoming all problems and backwardness," she said.

She called for maintaining national unity to carry forward the nation-building activities and development efforts.

"We have to forge national unity, burying all differences of opinion, to march together on the path of development to attain the targeted goals of national progress," she said.

"Though we successfully passed a stage in 1971 with the independence war, the final victory and the success of the struggle of national emancipation have not been achieved yet," she said.

Bangladesh Betar (independence) and Rapid Action Battalion (public service) received the Independence Award 2006 for their extraordinary contributions in the liberation war and public services respectively.

The prime minister distributed the awards among the representatives of the two institutions.

DG of Bangladesh Betar AFM Matiur Rahman and Rab DG Abdul Aziz Sarker received the awards on behalf of their institutions.

The award carries a gold medal, Tk one lakh and a citation.

Ministers, diplomats, MPs, eminent personalities of different professions and senior

Officials attended the function.

Khaleda said each individual and group need to be committed to attaining a national consensus on maintaining peace and national security. "In the changed perspective, I think this is the key message of the independence," she said.

She lamented that the country went backward for various reasons like exploitation, repression and deprivation. "But one day we had wealth and affluence."

"Splendid cities like Islamabad, Kolkata, Delhi and London were built by the labour, sweat and wealth of our people. We don't claim any share of those fortunes, but just want international support and cooperation in our efforts for development," Khaleda said, adding that such expectation and demand are logical and rightful.

She paid respect to the memories of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman terming them national leaders.

She also paid tributes to late Presdient Ziaur Rahman describing him as the proclaimer of the nation's independence, a hero freedom fighter and architect of modern Bangladesh.

The prime minister recalled with great respect the sacrifices of the martyrs, liberation heroes and repressed women during the War of Liberation.