BNP blasts Kibria murder charge sheet

The BNP has blasted the government for implicating its leaders in the supplementary charge sheet in the murder of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.

Its acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claims the move aims at eliminating BNP leaders.

BNP-affiliated Sylhet Mayor Ariful Haq Chowdhury, Habiganj Mayor GM Gaus and party chief Khaleda Zia's former political secretary Harris Chowdhury have been named in the supplementary charge sheet filed Thursday.

Fakhrul, on Friday, dubbed the cases as being 'politically motivated'.

"The party's Standing Committee expressed concern over the matter in yesterday's (Thursday) meeting," he told the media at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters.

Fakhrul claimed Jessore municipal Mayor Maruful Islam, Manirampur municipal Mayor Iqbal, Baghaparha Upazila Chairman Mishwar Rahman, Keshabpur municipal BNP chief Abdus Samad Biswas and municipal Mayor Mona had been accused in 'false cases'.

"They (the government) are planning to make the opposition leaderless," he alleged.

Awami League leader Kibria and four others were killed in a Jan 27, 2005 grenade attack when coming back from a rally in Habiganj.

Police filed the supplementary chargesheet after further investigation naming 11 new accused.

"We believe the government is filing the cases as part of its efforts to cling to power and suppress the opposition's democratic movement," Fakhrul alleged.