BNP wants punishment of real culprits, says Fakhrul

BNP yesterday said the party wants exemplary punishment of the real culprits of the August 21 grenade attack, and alleged that the government is making efforts to fulfill its desire, using the case as a political tool.

“As in the past, BNP still condemns and protest the brutal incident of August 21 grenade attack on the Awami League rally. We want proper trial and exemplary punishment of the real perpetrators of the attack to stop recurrence of such a ruthless incident,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a press conference at the party's central office.

“But the government's naked efforts to unfairly imperil the top BNP leaders using police, investigation officers and the judiciary by cashing in on the incident can in no way be acceptable in a civilised society,” he said.

BNP organised the press conference in the wake of ruling Awami League leaders' comments involving BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman with the August 21 grenade attack case.

Refuting the ruling party's allegations against Khaleda and Tarique, Fakhrul accused the government of trying to use the issue as a weapon to suppress and weaken its main political opponents.

He also said the government carried out the investigation into the incident by a party leader and retired police officer, Abdul Kahar Akand, with a political motive.