Bangladesh News

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia did not return the ’salam’ of her former secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan during an encounter at the trial court for Gatco corruption case yesterday.

Bhuiyan, who had been the longest-serving secretary general of the BNP, fell from Khaleda’s grace as he espoused reforms in the party following the imposition of a state of emergency in the country on January 11 last year.

The former prime minister, however, exchanged pleasantries with other co-accused as she entered the courtroom at 11:00am, virtually ignoring Bhuiyan who threw her ’salam’ several times.

Failing to draw Khaleda’s attention, Bhuiyan grew pale and perturbed, said an eyewitness account.

The BNP split into pro-Khaleda and pro-reform factions after the Bhuiyan-led group floated sweeping reform proposals in the party.

Hours before her arrest on September 3 last year, Khaleda expelled him from the party for his “controversial” role, replacing him with diehard Khandaker Delwar Hossain.

Bhuiyan, however, ditched his reform bid, called Khaleda as ‘Desh Netri’ on the day he surrendered to court in connection with the Gatco graft case.

NASIM-NIZAMI EMBRACE
Awami League leader and former home minister Mohammad Nasim embraced Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami as they came across in front of Special Court-3 at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex.

Nasim was produced before another court in connection with a graft case.