AL government cannot belittle Zia by shifting his remains from grave, says BNP

The BNP says it is not possible to ‘demean’ its founder Ziaur Rahman by shifting his remains or stripping him of his awards.

Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the remarks while laying wreath at late president Zia’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar grave.

The programme was to mark the 38th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, the party’s woman front, on Friday.

The BNP leader said: “Relocating Ziaur Rahman’s grave from the parliament area will belittle only the government of Awami League, not the leader.”

The statement came in reaction to the recent remark of Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque doubting whether Zia’s remains are there in the grave in Chandrima Udyan.

At a discussion in the city on Thursday, the minister demanded that a DNA test be carried out by collecting sample from it.

“Parliament complex is a sacred place and I can challenge that Zia’s body is not there.  Conduct a DNA test, and if Zia’s body is found there I’ll seek apology to the nation by rubbing nose in earth,” Haque had said.

He also claimed that the grave of Zia was made by distorting the design of the complex.

Condemning the minister’s remarks, Mirza Fakhrul said: “We think such heinous activities and decisions will only belittle them (govt) and further isolate them from the people.”

“A minister yesterday (Thursday) threatened to shift Ziaur Rahman’s grave (from parliament area). We condemn and protest it,” said Fakhrul.

He criticised the government for removing Ziaur Rahman’s Swadhinata Padak from the National Museum.

“Valiant freedom fighter Zia exists in the hearts of (160 million) people,” he observed.

After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Aug 15, 1975, Ziaur Rahman came Bangladesh’s first military ruler.

He was assassinated by some army officers in Chittagong on May 30, 1981. His last remains were buried at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, adjacent to the parliament complex.

Leaders of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, the BNP's women affiliate wing, also took part in a prayer.