Patrons of Bangabandhu killers equally guilty: Qauder
He said BNP vice-chairman Tareq Rahman from Hawa Bhaban was the mastermind behind the August 21 grenade attack
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said those who rewarded and patronised the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were equally responsible for the offence.
"If Ziaur Rahman had not sheltered the killers and rewarded them by giving jobs in Bangladesh missions abroad…if he had not become the army chief as the beneficiary of Khondaker Mostaq, the history might have been different," he said.
He said those who commit murders and those who patronise and reward the murderers are equally guilty.
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Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, made the remarks after paying homage to former women affairs secretary of Awami League Ivy Rahman at Banani graveyard here on the occasion of her 16th martyrdom anniversary.
He said BNP vice-chairman Tareq Rahman from Hawa Bhaban was the mastermind behind the August 21 grenade attack.
"The August 15 carnage of 1975 and the August 21 grenade attack of 2004 was sewed with the same thread," Quader said, adding that following the continuation of this intrigue, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was targeted on August 15 in 1975 while his daughter Sheikh Hasina on August 21 in 2004.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the best example in establishing political relations among the country's political parties, he said, but the activities of some political parties, the August 15 carnage and the August 21 grenade attack had created walls among the parties.
Despite that, the AL general secretary said, Sheikh Hasina tried to maintain good relations among the political parties and that was why she invited BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to Ganabhaban by making her a phone call.
"You had seen and heard that what inappropriate language Khaleda Zia used while speaking to the Prime Minister on that day," he said.
Responding to a remark of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Quader said: "You (BNP) came to power many times but did you try to bring the Zia's killers to justice or did you demand justice for Zia's murder?"
Condemning the Zia killing, he said the Awami League does not believe in the politics of killing.
That is why, the AL general secretary said, despite having many questions about the Zia killing, the AL condemned his killing.
AL presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint general secretaries Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretary Ahmad Hossain, office secretary Biplab Barua, women affairs secretary Meher Afroz Chumki and central committee member Rezaul Kabir Kawsar were, among others, present.
