‘No evidence of existence of Zia's body in Chandrima’

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Friday said there is no evidence of the existence of Zia's body in capital's Chandrima Udyan, reports BSS.

"Three bodies were recovered from a grave in Rangunia . . . But none of these included Ziaur Rahman's body," the minister, also Awami League (AL) joint general secretary, said while exchanging views with journalists at his official residence Dhaka.

Replying to a query about the prime minister's remarks in parliament, Dr Hasan said, "I am a man of Rangunia where the BNP claims that Zia was first buried. Former Rangunia upazila chairman Zahir Saheb is still alive and he said three bodies were recovered from there, but there was no body of Zia."

"Besides, both of Ershad Saheb and Mir Shawkat, who was very close to Ziaur Rahman, said they had not seen Zia's body there," he also mentioned.

About PM's remarks on this issue, Hasan Mahmud said the premier rightly pointed out that none saw Ziaur Rahman's body there.

Asked about the removal of the grave from Chandrima Udyan, the information minister said, "Demanding for a grave without any body is tantamount to cheating with the people as well as it is an act against the rules and regulations of Islam."

Referring to the recent remark of BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir that AL is torturing BNP for staying in power permanently, Hasan said, "AL believes in power of the people . . . It will run the country as long as the people want."

He said people are satisfied with the leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and AL as well in the way the country has tremendously achieved progress in the last 13 years.