Zia should be stripped off \\\'Bir Uttam\\\': Quamrul

Food Minister and Dhaka City Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Advocate Quamrul Islam said Thursday that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman should be stripped off the national gallantry award 'Bir Uttam' for patronising the anti-liberation forces, reports BSS.

The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at an anti-hartal rally in the city.

Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote organised the rally in front of the National Press Club with its president Advocate Tarana Halim, MP, in the chair. Dhaka City Awami League (AL) organising secretary Shahe Alam Murad, assistant secretary of AL sub-committee Advocate Balaram Poddar, Dhaka City AL executive committee member Hedayetul Islam Swapan and Jote general secretary Arun Sarker Rana were speakers, among others.

Mr Islam said, "As an agent of ISI (Inter-services Intelligence) of Pakistan Ziaur Rahman took part in the Liberation War. He was behind the killings of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders. For this reason, he rewarded the killers and promulgated the infamous indemnity ordinance to stop trial of these massacres. He also established the anti-liberation forces in state power.