Tarique attacks Bangabandhu again

BNP leader Tarique Rahman has continued his sustained attack on the man who put Bangladesh on the map by again reinterpreting the nation’s history.
This time he has labelled Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a 'Razakar' and claims that the nation's founding father had accepted Yahya Khan as Pakistan president by striking a deal with him just before the proclamation of independence.
The BNP senior vice chairman came up with the latest in a long line of astounding claims at a programme in London on Tuesday (Bangladesh time), marking the Victory Day.
He again claimed Tuesday that his father military ruler Gen Ziaur Rahman had proclaimed independence and was indeed Bangladesh's the first president.
The banner used in the programme introduced chief guest Tarique as the "leader of the country".
Citing AK Khandker and Badruddin Umar's writings, he went on to say the Awami League did not have preparations for an armed conflict in 1971.
The BNP leader claimed that it would not have taken nine months to defeat the Pakistani forces, if Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had started the war on Mar 7, 1971 with the Banglaee army officers.
According to him, the "small number" of Pakistani soldiers then present in Bangladesh could have been easily defeated and the death toll and economic damage "could have been much less", according to a news agency.