Dhaka, Aug 19 – The BNP on Monday announced a two-day programme to celebrate its 41st founding anniversary on September 1.
The programmes include holding rallies and discussions, hoisting party flag and placing wreaths at the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman.BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies at party’s central office at Naya Paltan with its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair.
Meanwhile, talking to journalists BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday outright rejected the involvement of party founding chairman late president Ziaur Rahman with killing of Father of the Nation and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members during August 15 carnage in 1975.
“It was not martyrdom president Ziaur Rahman, rather the then Awami League leaders were involved in killing of Bangabandhu and his family members,” he said after placing wreath at the mazar of Ziaur Rahman at Chandrima Udyan in the city to mark the founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Secchasebok Dal, the youth front of the BNP.
His comments came when Mirza Alamgir’s attention was drawn to the allegation of ruling Awami League leaders that Ziaur Rahman was involved in killing of Bangabandhu.
He alleged that the AL has been distorting history for a long and Zia was not involved in the killing in anyway which is proved historically.
“Their (AL) people were involved in it and had formed government and joined parliament following the incident,” he added.
Mirza Alamgir termed the statement of the Industries Minister that the BNP purchased rawhides as talks of adolescent saying that the government what he said unelected has totally failed to run the country.
On visit of Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar to Bangladesh, the BNP leader said they do not expect much to resolve bilateral problems from his tour.
He said despite having a high relation of Awami League with India Bangladesh is yet to get it fair water sharing of Teesta river while the border killing was not stopped.
There is trade deficit and trade imbalance with India but no measure was taken to deal with this, he alleged saying that many problems of India rather were resolved.
On Indian request for Bangladesh’s land to expand Tripura airport, he said they are observing the issue.
He however said that question does not arise to provide any land of the country to others.
The BNP secretary general expressed his hope that they would free Khaleda Zia by waging movement taking people with them and restore the democracy in the o country.
Secchasebok Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu, general secretary Abdul Quader Bhuiyan Jewel, among others, was present.
As per the founding anniversary programmes, the party flag will be hoisted atop its Naya Paltan central office and all other offices of BNP across the country at 6:00am on September 1.
Besides, the party leaders and activists will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of its founder Ziaur Rahman at 10:00am on the day.
Speaking at the programme, Mirza Fakhrul said they want toke out rallies across the country, including in the capital, the same day.
He said they will not take out the rallies only to mark their founding anniversary, but also to push for their demand for the ‘restoration’ of democracy.
Fakhrul said their party will also arrange a discussion in the city on September 2.
He said they will highlight the issue of keeping their chairperson in jail ‘unfairly through the programmes of their founding anniversary.
In the 40 years’ journey of their party, the BNP leader claimed it has played outstanding contributions to establishing democracy in the country.
On September 1, 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed BNP with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. BNP ruled the country for several terms. – Staff Reporter
