The BNP will put up resistance if the government attempts to remove the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area.
“It will be a disgraceful chapter in the country’s politics if the government removes Zia’s grave,” BNP Vice-chairman Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said yesterday at a programme organised by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.
The central leader of the opposition also urged the government not to execute such a plan.
The government has reportedly decided to remove all graves from the Sangsad Bhaban area to comply with the original design of Sangsad Bhaban by architect Louis Kahn.
Referring to the apparent reason behind the move, Hafiz Uddin said, “How was it possible to keep space for Ziaur Rahman’s grave in the design when he was alive?”
Regarding the handover of Anup Chetia, leader of Indian separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom, to India, he said the opposition party wanted to know which procedure had been followed in handing him over to the neighbouring country.
Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum held a rally protesting the reported plan of the government to remove Zia’s grave from the Sangsad Bhaban area.
The demonstrators also threatened the government with a tougher movement if it goes ahead with the plan.
Meanwhile, BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon lambasted the government for recent arrests of party members, saying if it wanted to hold credible local government polls, it should release the opposition men immediately. The elections will be questioned otherwise as was the case regarding January 5, 2014 polls.
It has become very tough for BNP men to participate in the upcoming polls since many possible candidates, polling agents and activists have already been arrested, and some have left their localities to avoid police harassment, said Ripon at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.
Source: The Daily Star
