The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Acting Secretary General Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday demanded of the Government to punish those, who assaulted party Standing Committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman near the mazar of Ziaur Rahman on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference at his residence, he alleged that some criminals attacked Gen Mahbub with a design to "kill him" and it was nothing but a work of those, who do not want unity of the BNP.

"We are deeply shocked seeing the way Gen Mahbub was manhandled. Pictures and news of the incident were published in the newspapers," he said, adding, "The Government can easily identify and try the attackers. Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed rejected outright Col (retd) Khandaker Abdur Rashid's claim that General Ziaur Rahman was involved in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"This is completely false. This false propaganda is being dished out to assassin Ziaur Rahman's character to gain political mileage," he said.

Recalling his memory about the August 15 massacre, Major Hafiz said, he personally went to Ziaur Rahman's house to give him the information about Mujib's killing when Zia was shaving in the morning. "Ziaur Rahman came out wearing a white vest and I informed him," he said.

Turing to the attack on Gen (retd) Mahbub, the reformist BNP Acting Secretary General said, "Gen Mahbub came under such an attack as he is demanding democratisation of the party and fighting against corruption."

Reposing confidence in BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's leadership, he said she was a calm and composed politician and did not indulge in corruption. "But some people were committing corruption using her name and damaged her reputation," he added.

Calling for unity in BNP, Major Hafiz said, "Unity is our strength. We want to advance Ziaur Rahman's politics by strengthening unity of the party and the nationalist forces."

He said, "The Election Commission gave us the letter of invitation to the dialogue as we are the mainstream BNP. We will participate in the next elections unitedly."

In reply to a question, Major Hafiz said they would strengthen the BNP's unity before sitting at the party office.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain appointed Acting Office Secretary Rizvee Ahmed yesterday at a press conference denied anti-reform factions involvement in the attack on Gen Mahbubur Rahman.

"Those who carried out attack on Gen Mahbubur Rahman do not belong to the BNP," he claimed.