AL asks Khaleda to apologise before nation
This June 15 photo shows BNP joint secretary general Rizvi Ahmed addressing a press briefing at the party’s headquarters at Nayapaltan. Photo: Focus Bangla
In the wake of strong criticism over BNP chairperson’s write-up in US newspaper Washington Times seeking cancellation of Bangladesh’s GSP facilities, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Wednesday claimed the party had protested publication of the article “many times”.
He however could not reply when journalists asked whether BNP sent any written rejoinder to the newspaper since publication of the commentary on January 30.
Addressing a press briefing at BNP headquarters at Nayapaltan, Rizvi, a joint general secretary of the main opposition party, faced a barrage of newsmen’s query on the contradicting statements on whether Khaleda Zia wrote the article titled ‘ZIA: The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh‘.
Toeing the line of the party chief that she did not send the article, Rizvi told journalists that the BNP had been “protesting it from the beginning and still doing so”.
When journalists asked details how they did it, he did not reply.
As the newsmen insisted for a reply, he said: “I don’t want to talk on this issue anymore.”
Rizvi’s statement came a day after the Washington Times authorities confirmed that they had published the article only after being certain about identity of the writer.
The January 30 byline write-up, which appeared in the opinion section of The Washington Times, drew huge public attention. At the bottom of the article, Khaleda was identified as former prime minister and current leader of opposition.
There was a reference to GSP in one part of the article.
But after the US suspended the GSP facility for Bangladesh, Khaleda denied in parliament on Saturday of sending any write-up to the US newspaper.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was in the House during Khaleda’s statement of denial, showed a copy of the article.
But Khaleda went on saying: “It’s not written by me.”
It was never before her Saturday’s statement that anyone from BNP claimed the article was not written by the BNP chief.
Meanwhile, the Washington Times on Tuesday confirmed publishing an article by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on January 30, which called upon western leaders to save the country’s democracy by putting pressure on the government.
Contacted by The Daily Star on Tuesday, The Washington Times Executive Editor David S Jackson in an email said his newspaper did carry an article by Khaleda titled “ZIA: The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh.”
“The article that appeared in The Washington Times [The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh] was submitted to us by Mark Pursey, a London-based intermediary acting on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia,” Jackson wrote.
He added: “We have been in touch with Mr. Pursey both before and after the publication of the article and we are confident in its authenticity.”
Mark Pursey is Founding Managing Partner of a UK-based communications consultancy firm, BTP Advisers.
Meanwhile, the ruling party asked Khaleda to confess to writing the article and apologise before the nation.
“She must apologise if she feels any responsibility towards the people and country,” Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of ruling Awami League, said at a press conference at the AL president’s Dhanmondi office in the afternoon.
The party has enough evidence to prove that it is Khaleda’s write up, he said.
Source: The Daily Star
