Hafizuddin reiterates he had no link to Zia arrest
Monday, 5 November 2007
BNP's acting secretary general Hafizuddin Ahmed Sunday challenged Mir Shawkat Ali's statement that he had participated in the arrest of general Ziaur Rahman on Nov 3, 1975, reports bdnews24.com.
"It was not me, it was captain Hafiz who had gone to arrest Zia. General Shawkat committed a blunder in mistaking me for captain Hafiz," said retired Major Hafizuddin.
On Saturday Mir Shawkat concurred with a statement by Hannan Shah alleging Hafizuddin's involvement in the arrest.
"We heard Major Hafiz went to arrest Zia at his residence on November 3. I was not in Dhaka that day. But I'm sure [Khaleda] Zia and Bangabandhu murder case convict major Mohiuddin will be able to testify as to who went to arrest Zia that day, as they had witnessed the event," Mir Shawkat said.
But, Hafizuddin, a sector commander during independence war, challenged Mir Shawkat.
"The general said Khaleda Zia was one of two witnesses who could corroborate his claim. Well, I'll leave politics immediately if Khaleda Zia says that I had gone to arrest her husband on that occasion."
While briefing reporters at his Banani home, Hafizuddin said, "General Shawkat has made a mistake and many officers serving in the army at that time can vouch for me."
He alleged that some news organisations were maligning the BNP and tarnishing its reputation by publishing confusing and unverified reports.
He called on journalists to uphold the principle of responsible reporting.
Hafizuddin said, "I was brigade major of the 46th Infantry Brigade when those incidents occurred under the orders of chief of general staff Khaled Musharraf. We all know that the army is based on carrying out superiors' orders."
Saying that he served the BNP for 16 years, Hafizuddin said, "General Shawkat is my senior and I respect him. But he has said that I served the army for six years and that I'm a newcomer to the party."
"I beg to differ. I served the army for seven years and joined the BNP in 1992 at the request of Khaleda Zia after winning a seat in parliament in 1991."
Hafizuddin said many ex-lawmakers had telephoned him to say that they had not made statements in favour of Khondoker Delwar Hossain, amid newspaper reports that they had.
Newspapers Sunday ran reports claiming that 122 former MPs had given statements supporting Delwar.
"It was not me, it was captain Hafiz who had gone to arrest Zia. General Shawkat committed a blunder in mistaking me for captain Hafiz," said retired Major Hafizuddin.
On Saturday Mir Shawkat concurred with a statement by Hannan Shah alleging Hafizuddin's involvement in the arrest.
"We heard Major Hafiz went to arrest Zia at his residence on November 3. I was not in Dhaka that day. But I'm sure [Khaleda] Zia and Bangabandhu murder case convict major Mohiuddin will be able to testify as to who went to arrest Zia that day, as they had witnessed the event," Mir Shawkat said.
But, Hafizuddin, a sector commander during independence war, challenged Mir Shawkat.
"The general said Khaleda Zia was one of two witnesses who could corroborate his claim. Well, I'll leave politics immediately if Khaleda Zia says that I had gone to arrest her husband on that occasion."
While briefing reporters at his Banani home, Hafizuddin said, "General Shawkat has made a mistake and many officers serving in the army at that time can vouch for me."
He alleged that some news organisations were maligning the BNP and tarnishing its reputation by publishing confusing and unverified reports.
He called on journalists to uphold the principle of responsible reporting.
Hafizuddin said, "I was brigade major of the 46th Infantry Brigade when those incidents occurred under the orders of chief of general staff Khaled Musharraf. We all know that the army is based on carrying out superiors' orders."
Saying that he served the BNP for 16 years, Hafizuddin said, "General Shawkat is my senior and I respect him. But he has said that I served the army for six years and that I'm a newcomer to the party."
"I beg to differ. I served the army for seven years and joined the BNP in 1992 at the request of Khaleda Zia after winning a seat in parliament in 1991."
Hafizuddin said many ex-lawmakers had telephoned him to say that they had not made statements in favour of Khondoker Delwar Hossain, amid newspaper reports that they had.
Newspapers Sunday ran reports claiming that 122 former MPs had given statements supporting Delwar.