Savar: After igniting a heated debate in the countryÔÇÖs political circles by labeling ex-President general Ziaur Rahman as ÔÇÿPakistani spyÔÇÖ, State Minister for Law Advocate Qamrul Islam now says the BNP founder was ÔÇ£directly involvedÔÇØ in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

ÔÇ£Being a sector commander during the Liberation War, Zia had joined hands with the defeated force. He rehabilitated the murderers of ÔÇÿ71 and ÔÇÖ75 and Khaleda is treading the path shown by her husband,ÔÇØ said the minister while addressing as chief guest the extended meeting of Savar upazila Awami League on Saturday afternoon. ┬á

He again fired the broadside against the Zias on the heels of the BNP chairpersonÔÇÖs recent meetings with Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in her bid to reunite the allies in her past government trying to spearhead an ÔÇÿoust-governmentÔÇÖ movement.┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á ┬á

The Jamaat top leaders are the main suspects in the war-crime trial the present government is setting the stage for, albeit with initial hiccups.        

Referring to more allocation made in the budget for holding the trial of the war criminals, he reaffirmed that the trial would be done and the judgment executed during the tenure of the present government.

ÔÇ£The top war criminals will be brought to justice first as per the aspiration of the nation,ÔÇØ he assured.

Bringing an allegation that the Opposition BNP is trying to hinder the trial proceedings, the state minister said, ÔÇ£When the government started trial process of the persons involved in crime against humanity, BNP is hatching conspiracy to foil the process.ÔÇØ┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á ┬á

He also advised his party colleagues to put those on the sidelines whoever get involved in extortion using party influence.

Sounding a note of warning, he also said: ÔÇ£We have to face the dire consequences if anyone shelters the toll collectors following the path of the previous BNP-led alliance government.ÔÇØ

Savar AL president Hasina Doula, local MP Talukder Mohammad Thouhid Jong Murad, Dhaka district AL general Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Savar upazila chairman Firoz Kabir and Savar AL general Secretary Ali Haider also addressed the meeting.

BDST 17:05 hrs June 12, 2010
Corr/RS/LY/MUA