Zia played game of breaking political parties: Hanif

KUSHTIA, Sept 25(BSS): Joint general secretary of the ruling Awami League Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said here today his party does not believe in the political game of breaking apart of political parties rather Ziaur Rahman initiated this game in Bangladesh.
The Awami League leader said this in reply to allegation of some BNP leaders that the ruling party was trying to create split in the BNP-led 20-party combine.
"The main components (parties) in the 20-party combine are BNP and Jamaat. BNP was floated following the killing of Bangabandhu in 1975 and Jamaat is a party of war criminals of 1971. Excepting the two components, people have no headache for the remaining allies in the 20-party combine, not to speak of our party," Hanif said adding that at that time, creating a split in Awami League also was a game of the military ruler Ziaur Rahman.
"It's not Awami League but BNP which is accustomed with playing the game of breaking apart of the political parties," the AL joint secretary said while exchanging views with leaders and workers of Kushtia District AL at his PTI Road residence here.
Hanif said it was proved following BNP's action programme of nationwide hartal on Monday that the party lost people's support as their leaders even did not take to the streets.
"So, in a bid to cover up their failure and minimise frustration prevailing upon their leaders and workers, some BNP leaders came up with allegation that the government was trying to create split in their combine," he added.
Kushtia District AL general secretary Azgar Ali, District Awami Juba League joint convener Habibur Rahman Habib, City AL president Taizal Ali Khan and other leaders of AL and its associate bodies were present, among others.