Khaleda sought Tk 50m for mayoral run, claims BNP man's son
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Son of a senior BNP leader has alleged that BNP chief Khaleda Zia sought Tk 50 million (5 crore) from him in return for the Dhaka mayoral ticket from the party, reports bdnews24.com.
"She asked me if I had enough money. She asked for Tk 50 million for election (expenses). But I am no (Mosaddek Ali) Falu or (Mirza) Abbas," Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiqui told a news conference Monday in Dhaka.
"I went to see her. I expressed my interest (in running for Dhaka mayor)," said the son of BNP standing committee member Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui.
The father, who sat beside son and watched the proceedings, at this stage stood and said: "The news conference is over. Irad is a representative of the new generation.
"He is more intelligent and talented than us, but lacks in experience. He said a few things in an emotional outburst. (I hope) you media people will cooperate."
Irad called Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, former mayors BNP's Mirza Abbas and Awami League's Mohammad Hanif "all corrupt", who "failed to deliver."
"I am an honest, brave, righteous and dedicated Bangladeshi," he said of himself and claimed he had high degrees from the US.
He launched an offensive on all the likely BNP candidates. None among Khoka, Abbas, ASM Hannan Shah and Abdul Awal Mintoo was an acceptable candidate, he said.
"There are allegations of corruption against all of them. After 1/11, all of them were charged and faced trial. Some of them had to go to jail."
Replying to a question, he said: "Sadeque Hossain Khoka failed as a mayor. Abusing the office of the city mayor, he made money.
"Mirza Abbas is an extortionist in the transport industry.
"Hannan Shah has had a record of corrupt practices. He is an 'illegitimate child of democracy.'
"Mintoo is a foreign passport holding corrupt agent of the West.
"She asked me if I had enough money. She asked for Tk 50 million for election (expenses). But I am no (Mosaddek Ali) Falu or (Mirza) Abbas," Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiqui told a news conference Monday in Dhaka.
"I went to see her. I expressed my interest (in running for Dhaka mayor)," said the son of BNP standing committee member Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui.
The father, who sat beside son and watched the proceedings, at this stage stood and said: "The news conference is over. Irad is a representative of the new generation.
"He is more intelligent and talented than us, but lacks in experience. He said a few things in an emotional outburst. (I hope) you media people will cooperate."
Irad called Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, former mayors BNP's Mirza Abbas and Awami League's Mohammad Hanif "all corrupt", who "failed to deliver."
"I am an honest, brave, righteous and dedicated Bangladeshi," he said of himself and claimed he had high degrees from the US.
He launched an offensive on all the likely BNP candidates. None among Khoka, Abbas, ASM Hannan Shah and Abdul Awal Mintoo was an acceptable candidate, he said.
"There are allegations of corruption against all of them. After 1/11, all of them were charged and faced trial. Some of them had to go to jail."
Replying to a question, he said: "Sadeque Hossain Khoka failed as a mayor. Abusing the office of the city mayor, he made money.
"Mirza Abbas is an extortionist in the transport industry.
"Hannan Shah has had a record of corrupt practices. He is an 'illegitimate child of democracy.'
"Mintoo is a foreign passport holding corrupt agent of the West.