The BNP yesterday asked whether there was any link between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s homecoming on May 17, 1981 and Ziaur Rahman’s murder 13 days later – a day after Hasina said Zia would have been tried for Bangabandhu’s murder if he was alive.
In reply to a query from a journalist, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “People have questions in their minds as to whether there is any connection [between the homecoming and the murder].”
When Fakhrul said they would probe into the matter if they come to power again, journalists asked why they had not done so during their previous two tenures.
In reply Fakhrul claimed that there were some investigations but this time, that is if they come to power again, “there would be a detailed probe.”
Zia’s widow and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has accused former military ruler and Jatiya Party chief
HM Ershad for her husband’s murder in the past. Ershad came to power through a military coup after Zia was killed.
In 1975, Zia took over state power through a similar military coup after the murder of the then prime minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to become the first military autocrat of the country. A few years later, Zia formed the BNP and became the president of the country.
The Bangabandhu murder case was settled in 2009 after Awami League came to power. Five of the accused were executed. Zia’s name did not feature in the list of the accused.
Mirza Fakhrul said he was not surprised that the prime minister tried to implicate Ziaur Rahman with Bangabandhu’s murder. “We were not surprised at such an irresponsible comment from the Awami League president. She always talks like this. The nation is familiar with her false comments,” he said.
Fakhrul quoted the PM as saying that Khandker Mustaque Ahmad – the interim president who filled in for Bangabandhu – made Zia the chief of army stuff after the murder.
“It is historically true that Awami League men were involved with the killing of Mujib. Mustaque was his [Bangabandhu’s] favourite person... The members of Mujib’s cabinet joined Mostak’s. The then army chief KM Shafiullah and air force chief AK Khandakar showed loyalty to the new government,” Fakhrul said.
“AK Khandakar was the chief of the air force when Sheikh Mujib was killed. Sheikh Hasina made him minister. Then should we say that Sheikh Hasina too was involved with the killing of Mujib? That would not be logical,” Fakhrul answered.
Regarding Ershad, Fakhrul said: “The man, who benefitted the most from Zia’s murder, is now a special envoy to the prime minister.”
When asked what the party’s thoughts were on the budget, he said: “This government does not have any right to place a budget in parliament. That is why we have been consciously avoiding saying anything about the budget.”
Fakhrul alleged that everything was part of a propaganda that was being conceived in a planned way to destroy the Zia family and the BNP.
He said the prime minister tried to give rise to a new debate by bringing up Zia’s name with Bangabandhu’s murder only to divert people’s attention from the rampant killings, abductions and forced disappearances.
Urging the prime minister to take back her comment, Fakhrul said: “We do not believe in political vengeance. We believe that our main target is to take the country forward. So for this, issues should be resolved through talks.”
