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Zia family symbol of BD's sovereignty, democracy

Fakhrul says at Koko's death anniv programme


Wednesday, 25 January 2023


BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday blamed political vengeance as the main reason behind the untimely demise of Arafat Rahman Koko, though he had no involvement in politics, reports UNB.
"Today (January 24) is the eighth death anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko. He was the son of a political family but he was not personally involved in politics. Unfortunately, political vengeance served as the biggest cause of his death," Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing a wreath and offering Fateha at the grave of Koko, younger son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, at Banani Graveyard.
After the "1/11 incident", Koko was arrested and then he was sent abroad, in exile, implicating him in false cases, Fakhrul said. "The only reason behind it was that he was the son of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia."
Fakhrul said Koko was an extraordinary sports organizer who played sports himself and was associated with various sports organizations.
"Arafat Rahman Koko was the main hero in the development of Bangladeshi cricket," he said.
The BNP leader said Koko contributed to organizing cricket, establishing cricket and taking its standards to international level.
"But we saw how he had to die in a pitiful condition and had to leave this world without proper treatment abroad," he said.
Fakhrul recalled that Koko's body was brought home from Malaysia when his mother Khaleda Zia was confined in her Gulshan office "amid a fierce anti-government movement."
"But thousands of people took to the streets on that day and participated in his janaza at the Baitul Mukarram Mosque... It has demonstrated how the country's people have trust and confidence in the politics of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia," he viewed.
Fakhrul said the Zia family is the symbol of Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty and democracy.