'Forging national unity with killers'
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday questioned on what moral grounds Dr Kamal Hossain and Badruddoza Chowdhury are forging a national unity with BNP as its leaders are convicted in August 21 cases.
“Those talking about democracy and the rule of law are going to forge a national unity with killers. This national unity will not have peoples' support,” he said while speaking at a programme of Road Transport Department at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka.
Quader further said, “The mastermind of the August 21 grenade attack was sentenced to life imprisonment. He (Tarique) is the acting chairman of the party. On what moral grounds are you forging unity with that party? Are Dr Kamal Hossain and former president Badruddoza Chowdhury forming a so-called national unity with the killers' party?”
On Wednesday, a speedy trial tribunal sentenced 19 people to death and 19 others, including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, to life imprisonment in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004.
Reacting to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's remark that August 21 verdicts are dictated ones, Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said no one with conscience can say that.
“How was the evidence (of August 21 cases) destroyed when you were in power? How did the attackers get the chance to flee in broad daylight?” the ruling party leader raised questions, seeking answers from BNP.
Quader also said BNP chief Khaleda Zia cannot avoid the responsibility for the incident either.
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