Govt out to tarnish Zia family's image

A total of 126 Khaleda-loyalist former lawmakers of BNP yesterday in a joint statement said the government is trying to tarnish the image of late president Ziaur Rahman's family by going beyond its constitutional jurisdiction.
Demanding the withdrawal of cases filed against Tarique Rahman, his wife and mother-in-law, they also said instead of curbing corruption, the government is using the Anti-Corruption Commission to destroy Zia's family.
Selima Rahman, joint secretary general of BNP, read out the statement at a press briefing held at party Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain's NAM flat.
However, a few former lawmakers who are known to be loyal to the pro-Saifur faction of BNP said requesting anonymity that they were not aware of the statement in which their names have been mentioned as signatories.
Responding to a query, Selima Rahman, also a former state minister, said the people would resist the government's plot to form a "puppet government consisting of individuals recommended by the World Bank and the IMF."
"The government, with the help of its foreign masters, intends to form a rubber-stamp parliament, but the people won't accept it," said the former lawmakers adding that they were ready for any sort of sacrifice to forge a movement against the interim government.
Demanding the release of political leaders including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, they said no election would be held in the country without Khaleda.
In reply to a question, Mohammad Shahjahan, former lawmaker and an organising secretary of BNP central committee, said the people have a growing sense of doubt that the election might not be held on time.
The statement contains the names of among others Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmad, M Shamsul Islam, MK Anwar, Mosharraf Hossain Shahjahan, Ali Newaz Khaiyam, Nasirul Haque Sabu, Abdul Hye, Elen Bhutto, Mohammad Shahjahan, Shahjahan Chowdhury, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi, Ashraf Uddin Nizam, Sohrab Uddin, Shirin Sultana and Rehana Akhter Ranu.