RAW behind Zia killing, says BNP's Rizvi

India's RAW was behind the assassination of former Bangladesh president Ziaur Rahman, claims BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 15 March 2017, 04:13 PM
Updated : 15 March 2017, 04:13 PM

His allegation follows a comment by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who recently blamed the Indian spy agency for working to keep 'the Awami League out of power'.

Gen Ziaur Rahman, who became president after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, was killed in a failed military coup in 1981.

The BNP founder's policies had earned him the 'pro-Pakistan' label from leaders of the Awami League, the party that led the struggle to liberate Bangladesh in 1971.

Rizvi, BNP senior joint secretary general, mentioned an article by Indian magazine Sunday, while making the allegation against RAW.

 The weekly political news magazine was once headed by MJ Akbar.

The journalist, who left Congress to join the BJP, was currently state minister for external affairs in Narendra Modi's cabinet.

"A report carried by the Sunday 25 to 26 years ago said that RAW opened a file to eliminate president Ziaur Rahman."

"It said the file was closed after prime minister Morarji (Desai) came to power in India. His predecessor Indira Gandhi had opened it."

"The file was reopened when the Indira Gandhi returned to power. Within a few days, Ziaur Rahman was killed in the hands of unruly soldiers at Chittagong's Circuit House on May 30, 1981," Rizvi said.