Lawmakers blast Khaleda
Ruling Awami League and opposition lawmakers yesterday in parliament demanded that the government file cases against BNP chief Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman for their “seditious comment” that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was the country's first president.
MPs and ministers irrespective of treasury and opposition bench also demanded that the House summon her before it and pass a defamation motion for her “heinous” comment.
The BNP chief in a discussion on Independence Day on March 27 claimed that her husband -- late president Ziaur Rahman -- was not only the proclaimer of independence but also the first president.
This triggered a widespread outcry.
A day before, Tarique, also senior vice-chairman of BNP who has been in London since 2008, had also made the same comment while speaking at a discussion.
Right after the House went into session yesterday with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal MP Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal raised the issue taking the floor on a point of order.
At least 10 MPs and ministers including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Abdul Latif Siddique, Jatiya Party MP Tajul Islam Chowdhury, also opposition chief whip, JP MP Kazi Feroz Rashid, and Tariqat Federation chief Najibul Bashar Maijvandari took part in the discussion that went on for around two and a half hours.
Later on, MPs and ministers whilst speaking on the thanks-giving motion on the president's speech also came down heavily on Khaleda and Tarique.
Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad were both present during the unscheduled discussion.
Badal told the House that Khaleda must provide the nation with evidence backing up her claim that her husband went to Chittagong to proclaim the country's independence.
Claiming that Khaleda was poorly educated, the JSD executive president said she had been undermining the country's constitution and parliament repeatedly.
“Other people will be encouraged to distort the country's history, if legal action is not taken against her [Khaleda],” he said.
Taking the floor, Amir Hossain Amu said Zia in the pieces he wrote had admitted that the country was going towards independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“After 43 years of our Liberation War, Khaleda is willfully distorting history to confuse people. We should take legal actions against her as she spoke against the country's independence and sovereignty,” he added.
Tofail said Khaleda had lost her mind failing to prevent the January 5 parliamentary polls.
On Ziaur Rahman, Tofail said, “If Ziaur Rahman was a freedom fighter, he could not have rehabilitated the war criminals.”
Suranjit said Bangabandhu is the proclaimer of independence and he is the first president and that is the truth and no one has the right to say otherwise.
“How could a major [Zia] become proclaimer of independence or become the first president when he was just an employee of the then Mujibnagar government,” added Suranjit.
He said Khaleda had willfully violated the country's constitution which cannot be tolerated and she must be charged with sedition.
Abdul Latif Siddique demanded that the parliament summoned Khaleda and took punitive action against her.
Opposition chief whip Tajul said after losing everything, including her position as the leader of the opposition, Khaleda had become mad. “That's why she is making nonsensical statement.”
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