Sheikh Mujib\\\'s family a curse: Tarique

Tarique Rahman has alleged Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led a family of killers, stirring up fresh controversy after having made waves earlier by saying he was a failure.
The BNP senior vice-chairman made a series of remarks at a seminar titled 'Strategies for Prosperous Bangladesh' at Queen Mary University of London on Sunday.
"They are more than a family of killers… they are a curse on Bangladesh."
Tarique provided a self-styled narrative of historic events between Mujib's assassination in 1975 and the time when his father, former military ruler Ziaur Rahman, assumed state power.
"Awami League failed that day, just like they failed to lead the people (in) 1971. They never succeeded in doing anything good for the people. They've always fought for their own gains."
"Sheikh Mujib beat Pakistan-era Deputy Speaker Shahid Ali to death with a chair," Tarique alleged, saying he read the account in a book by Abul Monsur Ahmed.
But the incident Tarique cited did not find mention in the writing of politician Ahmed, who was also a writer and journalist and averse to Mujib.
"Not only that, Sheikh Mujib killed almost 30,000 people after the liberation of Bangladesh because of their opposing views."
He said the first extrajudicial killing in Bangladesh's history took place with the murder of the revolutionary leader, Siraj Sikder, on Jan 2, 1975.
He went on to accuse Sheikh Hasina, saying she was responsible for the Peelkhana mutiny in 2009 and the 'indiscriminate killing of nearly 3,000' Hifazat-e Islam supporters during the eviction drive at Motijheel in May, 2013.
"This proves that Sheikh Mujib's family, Sheikh Hasina's family are Bangladesh's family of killers."
Prime Minister Hasina, while paying respects to the victims of a 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally that she had narrowly survived, said on Aug 21 the attempt on her life was an extension of her father's assassination.
"The Bengali people must be saved from this killer family. They'll get no space to live on this land," she said.
He said the attack was staged by none other than Hasina.
"She is responsible for the killings on Aug 21. She knew that the attack would take place in that area.
"Otherwise, why did she move the rally to Bangabandhu Avenue from Muktangon just one and a half hours before the rally was set to start?" said Tarique.
He shot back at Awami League President Hasina for her recent comments.
"She recently called Khandaker (Moshtaque Ahmed) a disgrace in connection with the Aug 15th assassination," said Tarique.
He claimed present ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Rashed Khan Menon, as well as Col Abu Taher, were present when Moshtaque was being sworn in as president after Mujib's killing.
"The people who plotted to kill Mujib were present at Moshtaque's (swearing-in) ceremony. These very people are now hanging around Sheikh Hasina," said Tarique.
"How sick must one be to embrace the killers of one's own father just for the sake of power?" he asked.
He claimed the Awami League leaders had slaughtered each other for power in 1975.