Arafat’s chehlum held amid tension

Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party hold a prayer session at the party chairperson’s office at Gulshan in Dhaka on Wednesday observing ‘chehlum’ of Arafat Rahman, the youngest son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia. — New Age photo

The government is doing excesses and has set a bad example, said former Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker Aktaruzzaman on Wednesday.
He said this to reporters after emerging from the Gulshan office after a prayer session marking chehlum, the 40th day after one dies, of Arafat Rahman, the youngest son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
‘Why are there such obstructions? Police even do not want to allow us to attend chehlum. The government is doing excesses … You [govt] have set a example of bad politics,’ he said.
‘Such day may return to you [prime minister Sheikh Hasina],’ he said, asking, ‘Which police officer can dare to arrest Khaleda Zia? The fight is now between Khaleda and Hasina and, despite the court order, none can arrest Khaleda without the order of Hasina.’
Jurist Rafiq-ul Haque and Khaleda’s relatives Selina Islam, elder sister of Khaleda, Kaniz Fatema, wife of Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Eskander, also took part in the programme.
Khaleda offered prayers for her son sitting inside her room on the first floor, said her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, vice-chairman Selima Rahman, Mahila Dal general secretary Shirin Sultana, Khaleda’s special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswash and other office staff were present.
Arafat died of a heart attack in Malaysia on January 24.

Source: New Age