A former minister yesterday alleged in parliament that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was involved in the assassination of her husband General Ziaur Rahman whose ultimately death, he said, made her prime minister.
Hasan Mahmud, former environment minister and chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the environment ministry, also urged self-exiled Tarique Rahman, who very often came under fire from the Awami League for his role in distorting history, to resolve the question in public mind over the birth of his brother Arafat Rahman.
He called on media not to publish ‘novice’ Tarique Rahman’s statements on the distortion of history for the sake of national interests.
“Tarique Zia is distorting history. I have no desire to talk about this novice, but newspapers are publishing news about him. I urge journalists: it will benefit the nation if you do not publish the comments of the novice or distorted history,” he said taking floor in an unscheduled discussion as soon as the House went into session at 4:05 pm with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
He said: “I urge you [Tarique] to make clear the people’s curiosity about the suspicion over the birth of your brother Arafat Rahman; settle the question about your family.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present at the House when he took floor on “point of order” which the MPs enjoyed to point out in assembly the deviation of the constitution, rules of procedure and parliamentary precedence.
The speaker, however, did not point out the use of unparliamentary and indecent words Hasan Mahmud used in the legislature.
The former minister said flocks of crows throng if you throw rice. “The BNP is a party of crows which gathered to enjoy the remnant of power Gen Ziaur Rahman strewed and Khaleda Zia is its chairperson.”
He claimed that Khaleda Zia was involved in the assassination of her husband. “If not, why none knocked at the door of Badruddoza Chowdhury who was at the next door [of Chittagong circuit house]; Khaleda Zia made Badruddoza the president as reward.”
The BNP while in power did not initiate the trial of Zia’s murder, he said, adding that women usually go to the graves, covering heads with scarves. “Khaleda Zia goes to offer prayers at her husband’s grave, but she goes with a black goggles and colourful outfit. This is because she knows that her husband’s body was not there.”
The former minister said Khaleda Zia became delighted on the day of her husband’s ultimately death that made her prime minister.