Chaos in Coco’s Janaza will rule BNP out forever: Awami League

Senior Awami League leader Hasan Mahmud has warned the BNP that the consequences of any attempt of disorder over Arafat Rahman Coco’s Namaz-e-Janaza will be grave.

The publicity secretary of the ruling party said this after the body of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s younger son reached Dhaka from Malaysia on Tuesday.

“Law enforcers and Awami League activists are helping you. The people will rule the BNP out from politics forever if they attempt any disorder surrounding the Janaza.”

The BNP-led alliance has been enforcing countrywide blockade and a series of general strikes for the last 22 days demanding interim polls under a non-partisan government.

Acts of sabotage across the country have taken at least 35 lives, with most of the victims coming under petrol bomb attacks.

Khaleda and former military ruler Ziaur Rahman’s youngest son Coco, who was convicted for smuggling money out of the country, died last Saturday due to cardiac failure in a Malaysia hospital.

The body, which reached Dhaka by a Malaysia Airlines flight earlier on Tuesday, is scheduled to be buried at the Banani graveyard after the Janaza.

But Khaleda, who has been living in her office since Jan 3, has remained firm on the party’s movement against the government.

Usually police prevent all sorts of gathering by opposition activists during shutdown and blockade but their leaders and activists will converge to attend Coco’s Janaza at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Awami League leaders are also supposed to take part in the prayers.