The government will look into the June 18 attack on a BNP motorcade carrying its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to see if the incident was staged, Transport Minister Obaidul Quader has said.
Fakhrul's motorcade was attacked at Shantirhat in Chittagong's Rangunia on its way to Rangamati to visit June 13 landslide victims.
Apart from Fakhrul, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP chairperson’s Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury and the party’s Chittagong divisional unit Organising Secretary Mahbuber Rahman Shamim were injured.
A case was filed over the attack three days later.
When asked about the incident, Obaidul Quader said Fakhrul wanted to visit the affected areas to “stage a drama” seven days after the landslides.
He, however, said those involved in the attack would be punished irrespective of their political affiliations.
Watch: Motorcade carrying BNP leaders under attack in Chittagong on Sunday
He questioned the BNP delegation taking the Rangunia route instead of going through Rauzan.
"It will be investigated to see if it (the attack) is a conspiracy," Quader, also the ruling Awami League general secretary, added.
Fakhrul blamed the ruling party for the attack dubbing it “an attack on democracy”.
Meanwhile, Quader said the government would rehabilitate those affected by the recent landslides in Rangamati.
During a visit to the district on Monday, he said the Rangamati-Chittagong road, badly damaged in the hillslides, would be made fit for heavy vehicles within July, reports UNB.
At least 150 people were killed in landslides triggered by torrential rain in Rangamati, Bandarban, Chittagong, Khagrachhari and Cox’s Bazar on June 13.
Popoular tourist destination Rangamati was hit the hardest with over 100 deaths, including five army men, and damaged infrastructure.