BNP protests govt ‘move to revoke’ Zia's award
The BNP yesterday said it would be suicidal for the Awami League government to revoke the Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award) given to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman posthumously.
Referring to media reports, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “We along with the people are anxious and frustrated over the move … It will be suicidal for the Awami League if the award is taken back.”
There would be no time for the AL to make amends when it realises that it has made a mistake, he said during a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan office in the capital.
"In 2003, a cabinet committee of the elected government [BNP-Jamaat alliance government], proposed to award Swadhinata Padak to both late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman for their great contribution to the Liberation War as well as nation building. Later, the then cabinet approved the proposal," Fakhrul said.
The 2013 decision was an example of political greatness of the BNP-Jamaat government, he added.
The citation letter and medal for Ziaur Rahman are kept at the National Museum.
He also mentioned that Bir Uttam, the second highest award for individual gallantry, was conferred upon Zia by the post-war government.
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