Untoward incident at Zia's Mazar

FE Team | Published: November 08, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman was assaulted while party leaders Mayor Sadeq Hossain Khoka and Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan were chased by pro-Khaleda supporters near late President Ziaur Rahman's graveyard Wednesday, reports UNB.
Police picked up three BNP workers from near the Zia's grave at Chandrima Udyan following the incident.
The BNP leaders went to BNP founder Zia's grave to offer fateha on the occasion of the National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
Witnesses said the incident occurred at about 10:15 am when former army chief Lt Gen (retd) Mahbub and senior party colleagues were returning after placing wreath at the grave.
Some BNP workers believed to be supporters of Khaleda-Delwar leadership called General Mahbub when he was about to get into his jeep at Bijoy Sarani crossing. As he got down, the workers caught hold of his collar and assaulted him. Police, however, rescued him before things could turn for the worse.
The angry BNP workers also chased Mayor Khoka and Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan while they were returning by their respective cars. During the melee, Saudi Arabia chapter Sramik Dal president Zakir Hossain was beaten and injured.
However, BNP acting president Saifur Rahman and acting general secretary Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed placed wreath at Zia's grave and offered fateha at about 9:50 am undisturbed ahead of the schedule.
Earlier, Speaker Zamir Uddin Sircar and Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui placed wreaths and offered fateha at Zia's grave at 9:45 am.
BNP sources said the authorities set two time schedules for two factions of BNP for visiting Zia's grave. Saifur-Hafiz group was advised to visit the mazar at 10.00 am and their rivals Khaleda-Delwar at 12.00 noon.
When contacted, Mahbubur Rahman told the news agency that this was nothing but the reality of Bangladeshi political culture.
Mahbub said, "I am a soldier, I will remain a soldier and I will continue my fight for truth and justice against corruption and vandalism."