Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party will stage demonstration at all divisional and district headquarters across the country today in protest against issuing of arrest warrant against Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of the party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
A Dhaka court on Thursday issued warrants for arrests of Tarique Rahman, also a senior vice-chairman of BNP, and 11 others in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act for the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on 21 August 2004.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday announced the fresh agitation programme at a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office.
Terming the issuance of the arrest warrant ‘politically motivated’, Mirza Fakhrul said, ‘The government indicted Tarique Rahman in the case to protect the real criminals behind the August 21 grenade attack.’
‘The arrest warrant was issued out of personal vengeance of Sheikh Hasina as we doubt some Awami League men might have been behind the incident,’ Fakhrul alleged.
The BNP acting secretary general demanded immediate withdrawal of the cases filed against all the leaders of the party including Tarique Rahman. ‘Otherwise,’ he warned, ‘get ready to face a dire consequence.’
He said, ‘Terror acts like bomb blasts began in the country during the AL regime while the BNP after assuming office later reined in the terror activities with an iron fist.’
‘The AL government (1996-2001) could not even ensure the security of former US president Bill Clinton that had prompted him to cancel his visit to the national mausoleum in Savar,’ he said.
Mirza Fakhrul also alleged that the Awami League government on instructions of its foreign masters was plotting to remove Tarique Rahman from the country’s politics.
He said the ruling Awami League wanted to oust the Zia family from politics as they (Zia family) opposed allowing India corridor through Bangladesh and to construct dams on trans-border rivers through hidden deals with India.
‘When people of the country have risen up against the misrule of the government, it is trying in a premeditated manner to divert people’s attention towards a different direction by filing false cases and issuing arrest warrants against the opposition leaders,’ he said.
The BNP leader said the AL-led government was out to re-establish one-party BKSAL rule in the country to cling to power.
Mirza Fakhrul also asked the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, to seek apology to the nation for her ‘indecent’ remarks made against opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Thursday.
Hasina blasted Khaleda Zia for her comments that the Constitution would be ‘thrown away’, saying none expected such remarks from the opposition leader.
BNP joint secretaries general Amanullah Aman, Mahbubuddin Khokan and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed and the party’s other senior leaders attended the press conference.
Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the BNP-backed student front, on Friday brought out a procession in the city protesting at the issuing of arrest warrant against Tarique Rahman.
Beginning from the BNP office in Naya Paltan, the procession led by the senior leaders of JCD ended at National Press Club.
-With New Age input
