BNP reactions mixed over Moudud book and Mahbub attack

Moudud says he did not intend to insult or criticise anybody

BNP leaders expressed mixed reactions over standing committee member Moudud Ahmed’s new book, in which the former minister says Khaleda Zia was solely concerned about the release of her two sons during the emergency period in 2007-08.

Adding to the controversy surrounding the book titled “Bangladesh Emergency and the Aftermath (2007-2008)”, pro-BNP academic, Mahbub Ullah, was assaulted as he left its launching ceremony.

A segment of the BNP leadership said Barrister Moudud Ahmed had given a factual account of the tenure of the army-backed caretaker government in 2007-08, while another group disputed the veracity of the account. A third portion of the party’s leadership declined to comment about the book

Moudud says he did not intend to insult or criticise anybody.

When contacted, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel told the Dhaka Tribune: “He [Moudud Ahmed] has described his observations in his new book, so what is the problem? I have not found any fault with the book. I think that he has given an accurate picture of the former illegal caretaker government and its illegal activities.”

“Moudud Ahmed also wrote in his book that the caretaker government had conspired  with Sheikh Hasina in prison and cleared the path for the Awami League to take power,” he added.

Maruf Kamal said everyone knew that the Fakhruddin–Moin U Ahmed government had put serious pressure on Khaleda Zia to quit the country along with her two sons, but she did not agree to do so.

“Besides, a mother’s sympathy for her children is natural. What is the problem with that?” he asked.

Maruf Kamal claimed that some media organisations were trying to foment conflict within his party and were keen on publishing accounts about Khaleda Zia but not about Sheikh Hasina, who also features prominently in the book.

Khaleda’s press secretary said: “We have no plan to arrange a press conference. However, madam [Khaleda] will read Moudud’s book, and comment on it later.”

A few BNP leaders declined to comment about the book.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, joint secretary general of the party, told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have not read the book, I have just heard about it. So, I have no comment. First I will read the book, then I’ll comment on it.”

A segment of the party’s leadership said it was typical of Moudud to make indecent statements and comments.

A BNP senior leader, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It is not new. He [Moudud] has always been a controversial person. His tendency to court controversy is well known to us, and to madam [Khaleda] too.”

The leader also said Moudud Ahmed had written controversial things about the party’s founder, Ziaur Rahman. The leader, seeking anonymity, claimed Moudud was now doing the same thing with Khaleda Zia and her two sons.

“I have nothing to say about this; madam will decide if any action is to be taken,” he added.

Former Dhaka University (DU) Professor Mahbub Ullah was attacked on Saturday while he was on his way to attend a function of pro-BNP engineers at the Institution of Engineers after attending the book launch.

The injured professor arrived at the engineers’ programme with his shirt torn and dishevelled, while the BNP chairperson was giving the chief guest’s address. Upon seeing him, Khaleda said to the audience: “Do you see what they have done to a professor? I say Sheikh Hasina must take responsibility for these attacks.”

“If those who attacked Professor Mahbub Ullah today are not arrested, it means that the attacks were carried out at the behest of Sheikh Hasina,” she said.

However, a Chhatra Dal leader, to asked to remain anonymous, said: “The party’s own overzealous activists who are angry about Moudud’s book may have attacked Professor Mahbub.”

He said Mahbub Ullah had spoken against Jamaat at the book launching ceremony, so Jamaat-Shibir activists could also be responsible for the attack.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and pro-BNP lawyer Khandakar Mahbub Hossain said the attack on former DU Professor Mahbub Ullah could not have happened without the government’s instigation and directives.

He made the allegation in a written statement during a press briefing at the Supreme Court Bar auditorium yesterday.

Mahbub Hossain said: “Professor Mahbub Ullah is an intellectual. He takes part in various talk shows on TV. For this reason, he was physically assaulted according to the government’s instigation and directives.”

He accused law enforcement of playing the role of silent spectators during the assault, and alleged that they had done nothing in regard to the matter despite the filing of a general diary.

Mahbub Ullah could not be reached for a comment.

Source: Dhaka Tribune