Attempts on to belittle war hero Zia, alleges Tarique

Despite attempts to implicate Ziaur Rahman in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his role in the Liberation War cannot be negated, Tarique Rahman has claimed, reports bdnews24.com.

He was addressing an event to mark the party's 36th founding anniversary organised in East London by BNP's UK unit in the early hours of Tuesday BdST.

Tarique, eldest son of former military ruler Zia and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, reiterated that it was his father, not Mujib, who announced Bangladesh's independence in 1971.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recently said the BNP founder would have been put on trial, if alive, for his role in the assassination of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She also accused him of steering Bangladesh away from the original goals of the Liberation War.

Zia stopped the judgment of war criminals after grabbing power, she said.

Over 500 party activists attended the gathering presided over by BNP's UK chapter chief Shaesta Chowdhury Kuddus and conducted by General Secretary Koysar Ahmed.

A documentary by 'Policy Forum' highlighting the contributions of party's founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Tarique in taking the BNP forward was shown at the beginning of the function.

BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique then delivered his address, barely a week after he stirred fresh controversy by calling founding father Bangabandhu's family a "curse on the nation" at another London event.

He again claimed his father was the first 'legitimate' president of Bangladesh.

"He was the first to declare war against Pakistan. He also announced independence. The political leadership then failed to do this but he didn't."

Those who find it difficult to deny Zia's war-time role are trying to implicate him in Sheikh Mujib's killing, Tarique alleged .

"Those who were involved in his killing are in Sheikh Hasina's Cabinet. They have been lying to her to save themselves."

On August 25, Tarique had claimed present ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Rashed Khan Menon were present when Khandaker Moshtaque Ahmed was being sworn in as president after Mujib's killing.

The BNP leader, accused in a slew of cases including the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally, has been living in London since 2008 with his family citing medical needs.

Another report adds: BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman has said political parties should not be based on religion even though the alliance led by his party has multiple constituents of that nature.

Religion could contribute to politics but no party should be based solely upon it, he said.

He quoted his father, former military ruler Ziaur Rahman, urging leaders and activists to pay heed to his contention.

"Ziaur Rahman while he was president told a workshop on September 1980 that political ideal cannot be based on religion," he reminded.

"We've learned from experience that politics of that kind doesn't work, it didn't during Pakistan era."

Tarique felt that religion-based political groups in Bangladesh have failed despite repeated efforts.

"There are many among us who have tried to create political essence and outline based on religion. But invariably they have failed."