Bangladesh News

Top leaders of Saifur-led BNP yesterday faced the wrath of Khaleda Zia loyalists while Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, member of BNP standing committee, was assaulted near the grave of the party’s founder late president Ziaur Rahman.

The other leaders who were harassed by pro-Khaleda activists were Acting Chairman Saifur Rahman, Dhaka Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and chairperson’s adviser Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan.

In separate incidents, five people including a police personnel were injured as police clubbed BNP activists several times to maintain order at the entrance of the grave of Zia. Police also picked up three activists from the scene.

The pro-Khaleda activists assaulted Mahbub on his way to his car near Bijoy Sarani and Crescent Lake Road intersection at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar after placing wreath at the late president’s grave on the occasion of National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

The mob of activists surrounded Mahbub, grabbed him by the collar and used their shoes to hit him with. Police came to his rescue and dispersed the activists who were shouting pro-Khaleda slogans, said witnesses.

The Khaleda loyalists hurled shoes at Acting Chairman Saifur Rahman’s car while another group gave chase to Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, president of BNP’s Dhaka city unit, and Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan, adviser to BNP chairperson, as the leaders were leaving the premises of Zia’s grave after paying their tribute.

The Crescent Lake Road was closed off and a large number of police and Rapid Action Battalion personnel took position around Zia’s grave where both factions of BNP were scheduled to pay their tribute separately to commemorate the day. Reformists led by Saifur-Hafiz were scheduled for 10:00am while pro-Khaleda group at 12:00 noon.

Though the two factions were allowed to enter Zia’s grave premises, they were not allowed to hold any discussion.

A group of 100 leaders and workers of Saifur-led faction led by Acting Chairman Saifur Rahman and Acting Secretary General Hafiz Uddin Ahmed placed floral wreath at 9:50am. Osman Farrukh, Mofazzal Karim, ZA Khan and Abdul Alim were present among others. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain were not present.

After paying their tribute, Saifur Rahman and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed both told reporters that they hoped the party would participate in the next election by remaining united after solving internal disputes through discussion.

“We believe in the ideology of Zia and the leadership of Khaleda Zia. There is no division in the party,” Saifur said adding that initiatives to resolve the differences would be taken soon.

Maj (retd) Hafiz said they have been loyal to Khaleda and looked forward to a united BNP in the next election.

At around 12:00pm, several hundred leaders, activists and workers of pro-Khaleda faction led by standing committee member Dr RA Gani and Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah paid tribute and offered fateha at Zia’s grave. MA Mannan, Rizvi Ahmed, a number of former lawmakers and leaders of BNP’s youth and student wings were also present.

Although the Khaleda loyalists started to gather around the grave since 10:00am, police did not allow them including Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) to enter the grave premises. Angry activists at that time started to chant pro-Khaleda slogans, prompting police to baton-charge them.

The situation turned disorderly at around 12:00 noon when hundreds of activists attempted to enter the premises at the same time. The police brought the situation under control by clubbing the crowd for the second time. Later on, they allowed 50 persons to enter the grave premises at a time.

After paying his tribute, while talking to the reporters, Hannan Shah once again urged the Election Commission (EC) to invite Delwar Hossain because he represents the mainstream BNP.

“Do not do anything that would make the people demand for your removal,” he warned the EC and said they would pursue all constitutional methods if they do not get justice from the court.

Criticizing Saifur Rahman, he said, they [Saifur-led group] visited the grave with the help of police and only a few people accompanied them as “evil forces have trapped them”.

“We never thought that a person like Saifur Rahman could betray BNP … I still believe that he will tell the truth to the people soon,” Hannan Shah said.

Earlier at 9:45am, Speaker Zamir Uddin Sircar and Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui placed wreaths and offered fateha at Zia’s grave.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday in a statement condemned the police attack on party leaders and workers and expressed sympathy for the injured. He also demanded immediate release of the arrested party leaders and workers.

BNP standing committee appointed Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed yesterday in a statement condemned yesterday’s assault on Lt Gen (retd) Mahbub and urged the authorities to take stern action against the assailants involved in the attack.

UNB adds: BNP standing committee member and ex-army chief Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, who was assaulted by some angry party workers yesterday, said this is the reality of Bangladesh politics.

“This is nothing but the reality of Bangladesh politics,” he told the news agency over phone.

Gen (retd) Mahbub said: “I am a soldier, I will remain a soldier and continue my fight for truth and justice against corruption and vandalism.”