Tarique had no hand in Aug 21 attack: Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said his party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman was not involved in the August 21 grenade attack.
Even the investigation into the bloody incident was not done properly, he claimed.
Mr Fakhrul made the observations at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters in Dhaka on Monday.
Initially, the name of Tarique Rahman was not included in the grenade attack case. His name was included based on a statement given by mufti Hannan.
Mufti Hannan later withdrew his statement through an affidavit, said Mr Fakhrul, adding that he was hanged in another case to stop him from appearing in the court, he stated.
Tarique Rahman's name was included in the case intentionally out of political jealousy, according to the party's secretary.
"The case was disposed of hastily. We repeatedly called for a fair and neutral probe into the case."
About the recent Indian tours by different political parties, he replied: "Those who can't go to the people try to reap the benefits this way. We want elections under a neutral caretaker government so that people can freely elect their government."
Mr Fakhrul accused the government of hatching a conspiracy to prevent political opponents from contesting the upcoming electoral race.
He said that the government wanted to hold another election without the opponents' participation like the ones staged in 2014 and 2018.
Citing a drive at the BNP office on Saturday night, he said law-enforcers, especially police, created a panicky situation and arrested many leaders and activists of the party.
He said the house of the former mayor of Habiganj municipality came under bullet attack by ruling-party men. Around 300 BNP men sustained injuries.
Awami League followers also fired bullets on Habiganj district BNP office on Sunday.
About a report ran in Anandabazar Patrika on Bangladesh, Mr Fakhrul said: "We (BNP) are yet to be politically bankrupt. We do politics taking people with us. We're with the people who want a free and fair election under a neutral caretaker government."
This particular subject (report) was not acknowledged by the United States (US) or India, he commented.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com