Fakhrul slates removal of Zia's medal

The government is belittling itself by removing Ziaur Rahman's Swadhinata Padak from the National Museum and also with its move to relocate his grave from the parliament area, says BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

"The government has shown its meanness by doing such heinous activities," he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to journalists after placing wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital yesterday to mark the 38th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, the women wing of BNP.

 Mohila Dal was established on September 9, 1978.

On September 7, the government removed BNP founder Zia's Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award) from the museum.

Criticising the liberation war affairs minister's remark on relocation of Zia's grave from the parliament premises, Fakhrul said, "A minister yesterday [Thursday] threatened to shift Ziaur Rahman's grave to other place [from the parliament area]. We strongly condemn and protest it.

"These decisions will only isolate them [the government] from the people further."

On Thursday, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq at a discussion in the city raised doubt whether Zia's body is in the grave in the parliament area and demanded that the grave be shifted from that place.

Fakhrul also claimed that Ziaur Rahman is the proclaimer of Bangladesh's independence and said, "It is very unfortunate that the anti-people government has deviated from the spirit of the Liberation War."

Either by removing the accolade or by relocating Zia's grave, the government would not be able to efface or belittle his image from the hearts of the people as it is engraved in their minds, he said.

"It won't be possible to underestimate Zia by removing his award and relocating his grave. Valiant freedom fighter Zia will be in the hearts of 16 crore people," he observed.

In 2003, the then BNP-Jamaat four-party alliance government gave the Swadhinata Padak, the highest civil award, to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman for their role in the Liberation War and nation building.

The then main opposition in parliament, the Awami League, had strongly criticised the government's move and refused to accept the award. The party had said that giving award to Bangabandhu and Zia was a conspiracy to compare the two on a same scale.

As the AL refused the award, the government had then sent the medals and citation papers to the National Museum for display.

At a discussion in the Jatiya Press Club, Fakhrul warned the government that it would face dire consequences if it tries to remove Zia's grave from the parliament area.

BNP's Dhaka city unit organised the discussion, protesting against the removal of Zia's Swadhinata Padak from the museum.

As per the schedule, the BNP will hold demonstrations in every district and metropolitan headquarters today, protesting the incident.