Khaleda Zia was involved in 2009 BDR mutiny, says Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asserted that Khaleda Zia was involved in the BDR mutiny.

Speaking at an event at her office on Wednesday, she said the BNP chairperson left her cantonment residence some two hours before the 2009 mutiny started.

Hasina also expressed her suspicion about the role of the elder son of Khaleda son's role saying that Tarique Rahman had made more than 50 phone calls from London on that day.

A mutiny by some members of the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) started in the Peelkhana headquarters of the border guards in Dhaka on Feb 25, 2009 and ended the following day.

It left 74 people, including 57 army officers deputed to the firce, killed.

"I have a question. The BDR incident started around 9:30am. The BNP chief then used to live at her cantonment residence. Why did she leave her so beloved home that day between 7 to 8:30am?

"Will she (Khaleda) offer an explanation? She left that place, where was she then? And her son had spoken to at least 40 to 50 people constantly during that time, when it was past midnight in London. Why?" asked Hasina.

She said that a lot of mysteries will be solved if inquiries are made on those phone calls.

"A lot of people as well as the BNP still talk about it. I ask them, who might have been involved with this incident? It might have been that individual, who fled from home or else why should one leave home?"

Out of the slain 57 officers, 33 were somehow related with families who support the Awami League, said Hasina.

"Ziaur Rahman awarded the perpetrators of Aug 15 by giving them jobs in embassies. The same way, who safeguarded those behind the Aug 21 grenade attack? Their characters will be revealed, if these facts are analysed.

"If you just analyse them, you will find Ziaur Rahman, his wife and son have repeatedly established and awarded killers, war criminals, rapists," the prime minister told the audience.

The BNP made a mistake by not taking part in the Jan 5 polls, she said.

"The party has to pay if one takes a political decision, which turns out to be wrong. It's not right to make the people pay for it."