Attack on Khaleda's Motorcade: AL leader accuses MP Nizam Hazari

With the ruling Awami League and its archrival BNP trading blame over the attack on Khaleda Zia's motorcade in Feni, a district AL leader yesterday accused local lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari of playing a key role in the October 28 incident.

Terming the attack pre-planned, Feni AL member Azharul Haque Arzu at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club said the lawmaker did this to “take revenge against media outlets” for running reports against him.

He raised the allegation days after the BNP claimed to have identified some of attackers by analysing video footage of the incident.

However, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader had claimed the attack was “staged by the BNP itself”.

The BNP chairperson's convoy came under attack at Mohammad Ali Bazar near Feni town when she was heading for Cox's Bazar to visit Rohingya refugee camps. At least 45 people were injured and some 30 vehicles damaged in the incident.

Arzu yesterday organised the press conference protesting “repression on him by Nizam Hazari”, also the general secretary of Feni AL.

While reading out a written statement, the AL leader alleged that vehicles of different media outlets, including DBC, Channel I, Ekattor TV and Boishakhi TV, were targeted by the cadres of Nizam Hazari.

People of the Hindu community were also threatened by Nizam Hazari, he added.

Arzu brought allegations of murder, corruption, money laundering and filing false cases against the lawmaker.

Many AL leaders left Feni due to the lawmaker's personal grudge, he told journalists.

Arzu said Nizam Hazari was sentenced to imprisonment in an arms case, but he “didn't serve the full jail term”.

According to him, former Feni Jubo League general secretary Sakhawat Hossain filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging that the lawmaker walked free from jail before serving his jail term. Since Arzu has good relations with Sakhawat, the lawmaker filed nine cases against Arzu of “false allegations”.

Asked whether he discussed the matter with the AL high-ups, Arzu said he informed party General Secretary Obaidul Quader about it on Monday. Quader assured him of resolving the issue.

Sakhawat Hossain and Tanvir Hasan, general secretary of Feni District Tanti League, were present at the press conference.

Despite repeated attempts, The Daily Star could not reach Nizam Hazari for comments as his two phones were found switched off.

Some Feni AL leaders also refused to make any comment on the allegations against the MP.