The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Forty-seven former BNP lawmakers Thursday demanded immediate release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Brig. Gen. (retd) ASM Hannan Shah and others arrested under the Emergency Powers Rules (EPR).

Hannan Shah was arrested from his Mohakhali DOHS residence Wednesday midnight and taken on three-day police remand. In a joint statement, the former BNP MPs also demanded withdrawal of cases filed under the EPR against former MP Moazzem Hossain Alal and others.

They said the neutrality of the caretaker government would be harmed if cases and harassment were meted out against BNP leaders and workers. "Unnecessary harassment will also deepen the doubts about the next year's general elections." Former BNP MP Mohammad Shajahan read out the joint statement to the reporters at the BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain's NAM apartment. Former MPs Maj (retd) Akhtaruzzaman, Selim Reza Habib, Nurul Kabir Shaheen, Principal Sorhab Uddin, Abdul Momin Talukdar, Shirin Sultana, Rehana Akhtar Ranu, Helen Zerin Khan, Saimun Begeum, Fahima Hossain Jubilee, Bilkis Jahan Shirin, Jahan Panna, Sultana Ahmad, Noorjahan Yasmin, Newaz Halima Orly, Rasheda Begum Hira and Yasmin Ara Huq were present.

Meanwhile, BNP acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed also demanded the release of BNP chairperson's adviser Hannan Shah and withdrawal of case against him.

Hannan Shah was arrested under a conspiracy, he alleged, saying that the case against him under the Emergency Powers Rules is "completely false and motivated."

Rizvi also demanded withdrawal of similar "false" cases and harassment against other party leaders including Jubo Dal general secretary ex-MP Moazzem Hossain Alal, JASAS general secretary Babul Ahmed and former JCD leader Asaduzzaman Ripon. He said the BNP leaders and workers were not involved with the assault on standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman near Zia's mazar on Wednesday. "The incident was unwarranted," he added.

Referring to the Election Commission's letter to Saifur-Hafiz faction of BNP for dialogue on electoral reforms, Rizvi said: "Saifur-Hafiz faction is out of the mainstream of BNP."