Whom does Moudud want to please, asks Rizvi

Senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed’s comments in his recent book are 'unfortunate', the party's Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said.

"I don't know whether his comments came to save his house or to please the ruling party. I think they are unfortunate," he told reporters on Monday.

He took a dig at Moudud's political career and said the party policymaker was a turncoat.

A lawyer by profession, Moudud Ahmed is a member of the BNP's Standing Committee, the highest policymaking body of the party.

In his book, 'Bangladesh Emergency and the Aftermath (2007-2008)', published on Saturday, the BNP leader has said that Khaleda Zia’s only concern was the release of her two sons from prison during the Emergency.

“At that time, she was very much a mother rather than a political leader,” says the book.

During the Emergency, Khaleda Zia was under pressure from the army-backed caretaker government to leave the country but she refused to sit across the table without the release of her two sons –Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko.”

“She even did not go abroad for treatment because of her concern for her two sons,” the book says.

Rizvi rebutted Moudud's claims at a press briefing at BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters on Monday.

"Khaleda Zia never compromised on the country and democracy. She did not leave the country for the sake of the people. There was pressure upon her, and that's why Tarique Rahman was tortured while being detained. A lot of senior leaders, including him (Moudud) were released then," he said.

Referring to Moudud being the vice president, prime minister, and deputy prime minister under HM Ershad’s regime, he said: "The people of this country know very well those who are devoid of ideology.”

"There are certain people who often change their colour. A renowned Indian journalist has compared them with 'fast food'."

"I am unable to understand who he wanted to please with such comments in his book," said the BNP Joint Secretary General.