Delwar dismisses Ashraf's allegation

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday dismissed the allegation raised by Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam that BNP is hatching conspiracy to eliminate Sajeeb Wazed Joy from politics to bring him at the same level with Tarique Rahman.
The AL general secretary's allegation is false and ill motivated, Delwar said when asked about Ashraful's comment that BNP had been conducting the campaign through a portion of the media loyal to the opposition party.
He was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The newly elected members of the party's standing committee, the highest policymaking forum of the party, senior joint secretary general and joint secretaries general also paid their tribute to the party's founder by placing wreaths at his grave.
Syed Ashraf, also the LGRD minister, in a briefing on Sunday made the allegations following the publication of a report regarding Joy in a pro-BNP newspaper.
Referring to Ashraful's comment on Tarique, Delwar said, "It is not fair in the eye of the law to jump to conclusion and label someone guilty immediately after accusation. There should be proper investigation into the allegations according to the laws."
He alleged that the ruling party is envious of Tarique's role in party politics.
"It is everybody's birth and fundamental right. There should be no question about it. One should leave it to the people whether or not he will succeed in politics."
The immediate past military-backed caretaker government could not prove the allegations brought against Tarique Rahman, but he was tortured and faced indignities during the caretaker regime, said the BNP secretary general.
He, however, said fair investigation into the allegation against Joy should be done without making it politically motivated.
The BNP leader hoped that the new leadership of BNP would work sincerely for the welfare of the people and the country.