Tofail calls Tarique 'black sheep'

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday came down hard on BNP Senior Vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, calling him “black sheep” for his recent comments on the Awami League and the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“No one in Bangladesh will believe that the Awami League is a party of black sheep. Only a black sheep

can utter such words,” he told reporters at his secretariat office.

Tarique's father was one of the persons who had saluted Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu had shown mercy to Ziaur Rahman when he saw tears in Zia's eyes, added Tofail.

Speaking at a seminar at Queen Mary University in London on Sunday, Tarique alleged that the people who prepared the grounds for the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were now in Sheikh Hasina's government.

MATIA CHOWDHURY

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday asked Tarique Rahman to refrain from talking tall from abroad, reports UNB.

“If you have the courage, then return home to face the cases against you. Don't talk tall sitting abroad. The people of the country won't be misguided by your tall talks,” she told a discussion marking National Mourning Day.

Mohila Sramik League hosted the event at Bangabandhu Avenue.

The minister alleged that the BNP's only agenda was to kill Sheikh Hasina.

INU, MENON

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon yesterday said Tarique Rahman's claim about their involvement in preparing the grounds for the assassination of Bangabandhu was a lie.

Inu claimed that he along with most of his family members had gone into hiding after the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, said another UNB report.

“After the killing of Bangabandhu, I'd gone into hiding. I was not present at the oath-taking ceremony of Khandaker Moshtaque Ahmed,” he told reporters at his office.

Talking separately to reporters, Menon said Tarique Rahman had resorted to falsehood in his desperate bid to return to politics.

Claiming that he was not present at the swearing-in ceremony of Moshtaque, Menon noted, “Though I had been in Dhaka, we had been in constant fear following the assassination of Bangabandhu … . You can find out the truth going through history.”

Taking a swipe at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique, the minister said they were now trying to reverse the history.

“The role of Khaleda Zia was questionable during the Liberation War in 1971 and Tarique is now making this false statement to save his mother,” he mentioned.