BNP warns govt again against ZIA renaming

Main opposition BNP yesterday threatened to launch a movement if the government does not refrain from deleting the name of late president Ziaur Rahman from different establishments and maligning the image of Tarique Rahman.
"We observe with deep concern that a certain quarter with the help of local and foreign conspirators are spreading propaganda against late president Ziaur Rahman, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman," said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, newly elected senior joint secretary general of the party.
He said they would resist all the conspiracies in a lawful way and if necessary, a massive upsurge will be built up and all conspirators will be thrown into the dustbin of history.
He was briefing newsmen at the party's central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka. Party's newly elected joint secretary generals Amanullah Aman, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Salauddin Ahmed were also present.
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government has been preoccupied with deleting the late president's name, but Zia cannot be removed from the hearts of the people. "They are trying to destroy BNP, as the immediate past caretaker government did."
The cabinet recently agreed in principle to rename the Zia International Airport as Hazrat Shahjalal (ra) International Airport that started its operation as Dhaka International Airport, in 1981.
The BNP leader alleged that the Awami League led government is trying to label the country as a fundamentalist state.
Accusing the government of repression and torture on the opposition, Alamgir, also a former state minister, urged the government to show democratic attitude and stop all sorts of oppression.
He also demanded investigation in respect of a news report on prime minister's Energy Adviser Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and the premier's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, which was published only in the daily Amar Desh.