Rizvi wonders why Hasina keeps 'Bangabandhu killing conspirators' in Awami League

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina why she has kept in the Awami League people who played controversial role during the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Rizvi threw the question to Hasina at a press conference in the party's Naya Paltan office on Thursday, a day after she said many of those who plotted the killing of the nation’s founding father in 1975 were within the Awami League‎.

"This is my question to the prime minister: How the people, who administered and took oath by walking over your father's blood, has been doing politics, becoming MP, ministers, advisers and holding other important posts under your leadership since May 17, 1981," he said.   

He named Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Hasanul Haq Inu along with the Awami League's HT Imam, KM Shafiullah, Abdul Malek Ukil and Matia Chowdhury, who was a leader of National Awami Party during the assassination of Bangabandhu.

"How do you tolerate HT Imam, making him your adviser with the rank of a minister," said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi.

"General Shafiullah, the then army chief, advised your father to climb up the wall and flee."

Imam, then the Cabinet secretary, administered the oath of the government of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, who took the charge after Bangabandhu's murder.

Now a member of the Awami League's Advisory Council, Imam is the prime minister's political affairs adviser.

The then army chief Shafiullah was elected MP from the Awami League in 1996. He also headed a parliamentary standing committee.

After the killing of Bangabandhu, the then speaker Abdul Malek Ukil said in London that "the Pharaoh has been ousted", claimed Rizvi.

"And you (Hasina) became president of the Awami League revived by that Malek Ukil. How could you tolerate the person who had made such remarks about the tragic murder?" Rizvi asked.

"Not only this. Those Inu, Matia, who wanted to celebrate, are in your Cabinet now," he added.

JaSoD leader Inu, a key ally of the Awami League now, is Information Minister while Matia Chowdhury from NAP is Agriculture Minister after joining the Awami League.

Awami League leaders think JaSoD's role after independence instigated the murder of Bangabandhu.

Hasina spoke about the Bangabandhu assassination conspiracy at a meeting with leaders and activists of the ruling party to mark her homecoming after the killing of Bangabandhu and most other members of the family.

BNP leader Rizvi said there were "some realisations" in Wednesday's speech by Hasina, who has been blaming BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for Bangabandhu's murder.

"In her speech on her homecoming day, the head of the government somewhat realised that Awami League leaders were also a part of the Aug 15 killing of Bangabandhu," Rizvi said.

 He, however, criticised Hasina for blaming Zia again for the killing.

"There were some realisations, but most of it (speech) was repetition of her natural lies. She did not say these (about conspirators) in Wednesday's discussion. She only attacked the BNP and late president Ziaur Rahman."

"I must say that pointing fingers at others will make no good. Rather be alert about the people around you," the BNP leader said, addressing the prime minister.

He also protested against Hasina's comment that Zia prevented her from entering Bangladesh.

"Then how could you enter the country on May 17, 1981? Ziaur Rahman was the head of the state at the time."

"Rather, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated 13 days after your arrival. The people also believe that your backers removed Ziaur Rahman considering him as a threat to you," Rizvi said.

"When dictator (HM) Ershad installed emergency rule ousting Justice Abdus Sattar at gunpoint, you said: "I am not unhappy"," the BNP leader added.

Jatiya Party chief Ershad is the prime minister's special envoy now.