BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan yesterday said a vested quarter is peddling propaganda against Tarique Rahman, as he is the future head of the party.
He was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of party founder president Ziaur Rahman on the occasion of Tarique’s 2nd “jail release day”.
Party leaders including senior joint secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Salauddin Ahmed, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annee, among others, were present.
They offered prayers for the salvation of the departed soul of Ziaur Rahman and recovery of Tarique, who is now in London for medical treatment.
Tarique was arrested on different charges, including corruption, in March 2007, during the last caretaker government. He was released on bail on September 3, 2008.
Nazmul Islam said BNP would speak for the people ignoring conspiracy, attacks, lawsuits and repression by the government.
“Every time BNP opted for a movement or human chain to voice people’s grievances, the government spread rumours that the opposition was trying to foil war crime trials or conceal corruption. But this propaganda cannot keep BNP from waging a movement for the people,” he said.
Responding to a comment by ruling Awami League leader Mahabubul Alam Hanif, Mirza Alamgir said it was Ziaur Rahman who helped Awami League’s rebirth by establishing multi-party democracy in the country.
On Thursday, Hanif said the way BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and BNP-led alliance were speading propaganda they might some day claim Zia as the founder of Awami League.
In counter argument Alamgir said, “Mr Hanif is just trying to obscure the facts by being rhetoric. Claiming Zia the founder of Awami League is absurd. But they have forgotten that Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani founded Awami League.