“The government has not taken any decision to remove the grave,” Obaidul, also the road, transport and bridges minister now on a tour to Bandarban, said in response to a query at the Circuit House yesterday.
Media reports say the government is considering to move Zia’s grave from Chandrima Udyan – as it was reportedly built violating the main design – to Mirpur graveyard where a place is kept for the sector commanders of the 1971 Liberation War.
The matter created much hype within the BNP. Party’s secretary general recently threatened the government not to shift the grave which the party leaders and supporters visit regularly.
The Awami League-led government has already removed the Independence Award given to Zia posthumously in 2003 from the National Museum.
About the BNP’s demand for mid-term polls, Obaidul Quader said: “The election will take place at the right time as per the parliamentary system. I do not think there is any need for a mid-term fun in the name of snap polls.”
During his exchange of views with the local public representatives, senior government officials and civil society members, Obaidul also said that the government would certainly implement the pending issues of the 1997 agreement, dubbed Peace Accord.
“The people of the hills will be able to see the full implementation of the Peace Accord,” the minister said in presence of State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing.
He said that the government would turn the Chittagong Hill Tracts region into a tourist zone. “Plans are on the cards to establish a tourist village covering Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban,” Obaidul told reporters.
He later visited Chimbuk tourist spot.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
