Maj Hafiz went to arrest Gen Zia in '75

Former BNP vice-chairman Lt Gen (retd) Mir Shawkat Ali, also principal staff officer of late president Ziaur Rahman, yesterday said he heard that Maj Hafiz along with troops went to arrest the then army chief Zia in 1975.
He said Khaleda Zia and her two sons know everything about this.
BNP chairperson's adviser Hannan Shah earlier also alleged that Hafiz, now acting secretary general of Saifur-led BNP, was involved in the Nov 3 coup against Zia.
Shawkat also rejected the allegation against Hannan Shah by Hafiz, who said Hannan negotiated with Gen Ershad on behalf of Gen Manjur after Zia's killing.
"Hafiz did not tell the truth as Hannan Shah established a link between Dhaka and Chittagong so that they can take proper action after the incident," the former BNP leader told reporters at his Gulshan residence.
Hafiz however yesterday told reporters that it is meaningless to talk about a matter happened 32 years ago, and what a few young army officers had done then.
Shawkat termed the standing committee meeting held without approval of Khaleda "illegitimate" as according to the party constitution the chairperson alone has the power to call such meetings.
He said the decision to make Saifur Rahman and Hafiz acting chairperson and acting secretary general was a 'stupid decision'.
They (Saifur-led BNP leaders) could meet Khaleda Zia in sub-jail but they did not apply with the authorities concerned, Shawkat added.
The former BNP leader said appointing Hafiz secretary general was not right as he has been with the party only for six years.
Asked whether he will involve himself in the party, Shawkat said, "I will return when I will be convinced that the party will not join hands with war criminals."
Shawkat, also a sector commander, said Bangabandhu, Gen Ziaur Rahman and Gen Manzur were killed by the rajakars.
According to him, the anti-liberation elements are active at present as they were in the past.
Meanwhile, Rizvi Ahmed, BNP's acting office secretary, said Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain along with the party leaders would place floral wreath at the graveyard of Ziaur Rahman to mark the historic November 7.
Party and national flags would be hoisted at the party offices across the country and milad mahfils would also be arranged.
Talking to reporters at his residence, Rizvi said pro-Saifur leaders could form committees one after another to implement their conspiracy to oust Khaleda, as they want to implement the agenda of a certain quarter.