Govt spreading rumours over attacks on Khaleda’s motorcade, says BNP’s Fakhrul

The ruling Awami League is spreading rumours over recent attacks on BNP chief Khaleda Zia's motorcade in Feni, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.

At a media briefing held at Chittagong Circuit House on Tuesday, the BNP leader said: “You all know who carried out the attacks. Our vehicles were vandalised, so were those of the journalists.”

“They tried to frame our Chittagong unit president. He was never involved in all these. They cannot just spread rumours and mislead people like this,” he said.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's motorcade was attacked in Feni on Saturday.

The former prime minister left Dhaka Saturday morning for Cox's Bazar to visit the Rohingyas.

Several cars of the motorcade came under attack by a group of unidentified men as soon as it passed Comilla's Chouddagram and reached Feni's Mohammad Ali Bazar area.

More than 30 cars belonging to the motorcade, including those carrying journalists, have been damaged in the attack.

An online media outlet leaked a phone conversation on Monday where an attack on Khaleda's motorcade being ordered in Feni is heard.

Denying claims of Awami League leaders, Chittagong City BNP President Shahadat Hossain has claimed that the voice heard was in fact of Feni Awami League leader Shahadat Hossain Shaka, not his.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has described the attack as “a move of the BNP to get media coverage.”

To this, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul said: “I expected him to at least criticise the attack and take necessary steps to find out the culprits. In fact, the culprits have already been identified.”

“But they are spreading rumours. We strongly condemn such act and urge them to bring the attackers to book without delay.”