BNP response under fire at Sangsad

Treasury and opposition bench lawmakers in parliament yesterday lambasted the BNP high-command for “not allowing” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to meet and console Khaleda Zia following the death of Arafat Rahman Koko.

They said all social norms were violated by “denying” the PM's entry to the BNP chief's political office in Gulshan.

At the same time, the lawmakers expressed deep shock at the sudden death of Koko, younger son of Khaleda, and prayed for the salvation of his departed soul. 

Sheikh Hasina on Saturday night went to the Gulshan office to meet her archrival and offer her condolences. But she returned from the gate as it was locked from inside and nobody from the office was there to receive her.

Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister's Office reportedly informed Khaleda's special assistant Shimul Biswas about the PM's willingness to see the BNP chief.

While Hasina was on her way to Gulshan from the Gono Bhaban, Shimul told the media that Khaleda was sedated by doctors as she felt unwell and thus won't be able to meet the PM.

Yesterday in parliament, Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad said the PM's visit had offered a ray of hope for the people. But the nation was shocked when Hasina had to return from the gate. 

Senior BNP leaders and Khaleda's relatives could have received the PM, she added.

Senior AL lawmaker Tofail Ahmed, who accompanied Hasina during her visit to Khaleda's office, said he was not surprised that the PM could not see Khaleda. But he was surprised when Khaleda intensified the ongoing blockade through announcing hartal even after the death of her son.

He urged the BNP chief to think about the mothers who lost their sons during the blockade. 

Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League yesterday through a press conference offered condolences, expressing hope that the BNP-led opposition will call off the ongoing blockade.

Arafat Rahman Koko died of a heart attack at his rented house in Malaysia on Saturday. His body will be flown to Dhaka around 11:30am tomorrow, according to the Bangladesh mission in Kuala Lumpur and relatives.

The BNP in a release last night said Koko's namaz-e-janaza will be held in front of the BNP's Naya Paltan central office after Asr prayers. Relatives said he will be laid to rest at the Banani graveyard.

The party will observe three days' mourning from today and a countrywide janaza will also be held on Wednesday.

Talking about the prime minister's initiative, AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta in parliament said it was her graciousness. His party colleague Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said, "The entire nation has been humiliated when the daughter of Bangabandhu was barred."

Dipu Moni questioned what a nation could expect from a party like BNP that can indulge in dirty politics even over the death of Koko.

Also yesterday, a number of BNP men said it was wrong not to show due respect to Hasina when she went to meet Khaleda.

The Daily Star talked to at least 13 leaders and activists of the party and its different front organisations. Most of them said senior BNP leaders should have been consulted after the PMO informed Khaleda's special assistant Shimul Biswas over Hasina's willingness to visit.

Gulshan office sources said BNP standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, Jamir Uddin Sircar, Moyeen Khan, among other senior leaders, were there when the PMO contacted Shimul.

“We are yet to know following whose direction Shimul on his own communicated with the Prime Minister's Office. I can tell you that we were not informed at all,” said a standing committee member, who was present at Gulshan office at that time.

Party insiders said following directives from Khaleda's elder son Tarique Rahman, Shimul announced that the BNP chief was too ill to meet the PM.

Tarique, also senior vice-chairman of BNP, has been staying in London since late 2008 and only a select few can contact him over telephone or through email.

Moudud Ahmed, another standing committee member of BNP, said the party chief was unaware about the visit as she was almost unconscious.

“We could not contact her [Khaleda] as her door was closed from inside,” Moudud said, adding senior leaders were unaware that the main gate of the building was locked. 

A Mohila Dal leader said: “Sheikh Hasina might have any other intention behind the visit; she might have wanted to gain political mileage. But madam [Khaleda] could have turned the tables if she had called on Hasina.”