BNP leader Khandker Mosharraf Hossain has denied making any “indecent remarks” against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and blamed the media of ‘misrepresenting’ his comments.
Published : 22 Jan 2013, 10:40 AM
Hossain told a press conference on Tuesday that the chief of ‘Jananetri Parishad’, an Awami League front , had ‘misinterpreted’ his Dec 31 speech in front of the National Press Club and filed a case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court.
The BNP Standing Committee member brushed off allegations that he had threatened Hasina's life. “The media had twisted my statement. I analysed what could happen if the country went ahead with a one-party election under the current political system,” he said.
“My statement did not contain any threat or defamation of the Prime Minister or anyone else,” Hossain added.
AB Siddiqui, President of Jananetri Parishad, filed a libel suit against Hossain on Sunday.
The court has ordered the BNP leader to appear on Feb 17.
According to case details, the accused had allegedly said that the incumbent government annulled the caretaker government system with a view to retaining state power by conspiracy.
“The father of this Prime Minister had also dreamt to stay in power permanently by forming BAKSAL. But the dream was shattered. If the incumbent government tries to stay in power through polls under a partisan government, it will have to suffer the same fate as 1975,” Hossain had allegedly said.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had formed Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL) on June 7, 1975 after the Fourth Amendment to the constitution.
BAKSAL aimed at an exploitation-free socialist economy and a political structure like contemporary socialist countries. But it was accused of creating one-party rule.
The Father of the Nation was killed along with most members of his family on the night of Aug 15, 1975 in a military coup.
The case claimed Hossain’s statements had defamed the Prime Minister in the country and abroad and said she was suffering from insecurity as a result of the threat of a “repeat of 1975”.
But the BNP leader says he was merely comparing the Awami league’s functioning in two different era. “My statement had been misrepresented in the media,” he claimed.
“I had rather said, if the BAKSAL system could not sustain in 1975, the Awami League will not be able to stay in power if they used force now,” Hossain added.