BNP MP seeks PM Tarique’s recognition as ‘child freedom fighter’

The MP also wants former BNP chairperson and prime minister Khaleda Zia to be dubbed a war hero

A ruling party MP has demanded that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his younger brother, the late Arafat Rahman Koko, be recognised as “child freedom fighters”.

Mujibur Rahman, who represents the BNP from the Gazipur-1 constituency, was speaking during the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the president’s speech in the parliament on Wednesday.

He also demanded that the late BNP chairperson and prime minister Khaleda Zia be recognised as a war hero.

Mujibur thanked Mohammed Shahabuddin for recognising the contributions of the late president Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda in his presidential address.

Later, the lawmaker highlighted his election as BNP candidate from the Gazipur-1 constituency in 45 years.

Referring to the Liberation War, he said: “[Khaleda] was in the custody of the Pakistani Army. Therefore, she should be declared a ‘freedom fighter’ in recognition of her contribution to the war.”

“Tarique should be recognised as a child freedom fighter due to the reality of the Liberation War because he was ‘incarcerated’ for nine months then,” Mujibur said.

Seeking the same status for Koko, he alleged that the younger son of Khaleda was killed in a “planned manner”.