Rafiqul Islam also says Zia \\\'first president\\\'
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Defending their party chief Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Zia's assertions, BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah Friday described how late Ziaur Rahman was the 'first president' of the country, reports UNB.
Ziaur Rahman was virtually the 'president' of Bangladesh just during the period after the proclamation of Independence and formation of Mujibnagar Government on April 17, 1971, he said addressing a human chain formed in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
"Ziaur Rahman first proclaimed the independence saying 'I revolt' after Pakistani force had unleashed massacre on March 25. Under whose rule the country had been run from the day before the formation of independent country's government in exile?" Rafiqul Islam questioned.
"The country had been under control of Ziaur Rahman at that time. He (Zia) was virtually in charge of the president of the country… There' s no scope to deny this fact. Khaleda Zia, in her statement, exactly meant this," he said.
Daudkandi Upazila Jatiyatabadi Forum at Dhaka organized the human chain demanding the release of BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and its other national leaders.
BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, now lives in Landon, has recently claimed that Ziaur Rahman was the 'first president' of Bangladesh.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday also claimed that her late husband Ziaur Rahman was the first president of Bangladesh and proclaimer of its independence.
About Mosharraf, he claimed that Dr Mosharraf Hossain was arrested on 'false' charge. "The charge of siphoning off money brought against him is false. Because the money was deposited before 2001 when he had not been a minister," Rafiqul Islam said.
BNP joint office secretary Shamimur Rahman Shamim and party executive committee member Ismail Hossain Bengal, Mohila Dal general secretary Shirin Sultana, Mosharraf's son Barrister Khandaker Maruf Hossain and forum president Shahjahan Chowdhury, among others, addressed the function.