BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, left, and acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
By Mizan Rahman/Dhaka
A defamation case has been filed against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman and acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for allegedly making derogatory comments on Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jononetri Parishad, a pro-Awami league organisation, filed the case with the court of chief metropolitan magistrate yesterday.
After hearing, chief metropolitan magistrate Md Erfan Ullah ordered the officer in-charge of Paltan police station to investigate the allegations and submit the probe report by October 20.
The complainant alleged that at a discussion on September 2, Tarique, who has been staying in London since 2008, claimed Ziaur Rahman as the country’s first president.
Besides, complainant AB Siddique further alleged that on September 5, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam said Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ended his March 7, 1971 speech saying ‘Joy (victory to) Pakistan’ and he didn’t make any announcement for independence, which was published in different national dailies on the following day.
“Both (Tarique and Fakhrul) have distorted the history and tarnished the image of Bangabondhu by making the comments,” Siddique said in his complaint.
Eariler on August 24, Tarique Rahman, at a seminar at Queen Mary University in London, said: “Sheikh Hasina is the leader of black sheep party.”
He also claimed that Ziaur Rahman was the first “legitimate” president of Bangladesh at another programme in London on September 1.
On the other hand, Fakhrul made his remarks at a mourning programme, marking the death anniversary of former finance minister M Saifur Rahman on September 5.
Meanwhile, taking a swipe at prominent jurist Kamal Hossain, ruling Awami League’s publicity and publication secretary Hasan Mahmud said Kamal has no ethical point to question the legitimacy and the authority of the current parliament.
“Kamal was a member of the constitution committee and was also an unelected member of the 1972 assembly. If an unelected law minister had the right to place the constitution then why the current parliament members won’t have the legitimacy to amend the
constitution’?” he wondered.
Hasan Mahmud was addressing a discussion on the country’s current political situation organised by
Bangabondhu Academy.
“This amendment is the safeguard to judges. It ensures the authority, security and independence of judges,” he said.
Terming deputy chief of the 1971 Bangladesh liberation forces Air Vice Marshal (retired) and former Awami League minister AK Khandker as a ‘conspirator’ and ‘beneficiary’ of all governments, the former minister said: “AK Khandker must apologise to people, or else, people will dump him into the dustbin.”
