That's not me: BNP’s Shahadat Hossain says about controversial phone conversation

Chittagong City BNP President Shahadat Hossain has claimed the voice heard in a leaked phone conversation, where an attack on Khaleda Zia's motorcade was ordered in Feni, is not his.

"The words, accent and voice in the conversation do not have any similarity with mine. The accent is of that region (Noakhali)," he said at a news conference organised to refute the charge against him brought by an online media outlet on Monday.

"And I have never used abusive words in 30 years of my political career. I have always exercised organisational and healthy politics. As a doctor, I have always tried to save lives," he added.

He also referred to other media reports where photos claimed to be of local leaders of the Awami League and its affiliates in action during the attack were published. "It's clear who were the people involved in the attack."

He demanded a proper investigation into the attack and punishment to those involved in it.

Shahadat Hossain Shaka

BNP leader Shahadat further claimed the voice heard was in fact of Feni Awami League leader Shahadat Hossain Shaka.

The Awami League and the BNP have continued to blame each other for the attack on Khaleda's motorcade as the leaked phone conversation fuelled the controversy further.

Awami League leader Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif has blamed BNP leaders and activists for the attack on their chief.

The joint general secretary of the ruling party played an audio tape of the leaked phone conversation to back his claim at a programme in Dhaka on Monday.

The conversation was leaked amid the two rival parties blaming each other for the attack carried out in Feni on Saturday when Khaleda was on her way to Cox's Bazar.

Hanif claimed Chittagong BNP’s Shahadat was heard ordering the attack in the leaked phone call. 

Playing the tape at the programme organised by Enam-Anar Public Welfare Foundation, the Awami League leader said, "The BNP always conspires, and it has done so this time we well."

Hanif also vowed to track down the attackers and bring them to book. "We want to see those who were involved in the attack, those who want to create political issues."

He said the government clearly instructed the law enforcers to ensure the safe passage of Khaleda to Cox's Bazar.

"Our leaders and activists had no headache over this trip. Why would they go there?" he asked.

He also criticised Khaleda for visiting the Rohingya refugee camps "after the situation improved".