Betrayal not in his blood

Invoking the memory of his father Syed Nazrul Islam, just-removed LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said he doesn't do politics for personal gains.

“I don't do politics for my own benefit. My father did politics with honesty. He was loyal to his leader. He embraced death for his leader. He never betrayed Bangabandhu. This is what's in my blood,” he said.

Syed Nazrul Islam, acting president of 1971 Mujibnagar government, was among the four national leaders murdered in jail on November 3, 1975, less than three months after the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Ashraf made the comments at an Iftar party hosted by Hossainpur Samity at the capital's Officer's Club, two days after losing the LGRD portfolio.

He said, "I will work for the people of Hossainpur whether I'm in politics or not.”

Hossainpur is an upazila in his constituency Kishoreganj-1.

Now a minister without portfolio, he is spending most of his time at his official residence on Bailey Road and meeting well-wishers.

Several AL leaders including Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan Dablu, Ashim Kumar Ukil, Khalid Mahamud Chowdhury, Mahbubul Hoque Shakil and many from his constituency went to his house yesterday. He talked with all of them.

Ashraf, also general secretary of the ruling Awami League, told his party colleagues that he would leave for London on July 15 to celebrate the Eid with his family members and return on August 1.