BNP blasts AL for linking it to Natore killing

It also urged the AL to refrain from levelling baseless charges against BNP leaders in the interest of identifying the killers.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP central office, BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan challenged the AL contention and said the ruling party would accept investigation by any agency into the killing. "We are also ready to form a judicial probe committee in this connection."

"Tell us whether you want a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or any other agency or by a judicial inquiry committee. We are ready to engage an investigating agency of the Awami League's choosing," he said.

Bhuiyan said hurling a baseless accusation on State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman Patal, or any other man for that matter, would rather hinder the investigation and help the real killers to escape. He also strongly criticised "the AL bid to implicate BNP ministers and leaders in the killing."

He said the government has taken necessary steps to find out the real culprits and has also included the case in the list of "sensational cases" to ensure proper investigation and speedy trial.

Bhuiyan said the AL accused Patal and Deputy Minister for Land Ruhul Quddus Dulu with a political motive and requested the AL leadership to help identify the real killers. "Don't indulge in character assassination."

Replying to a question about withdrawal of certain cases, the LGRD minister said only the politically motivated cases filed against the then opposition activists by the previous AL government are being withdrawn on the basis of proper scrutiny by a committee.

"The question of withdrawing cases against the criminals does not arise. Withdrawal of false and politically motivated cases took place in the past also," he added.

Speaking at the press conference, Patal said the charges levelled against him by the AL are completely baseless.

"I did not touch any weapon since the Victory Day, December 16, 1971. I hate politics of killing and never patronised it," he said. The AL chief falsely implicated him in a case of firing in a train when he was a minister in the 1991-96 BNP government, he claimed. "But the AL after assuming power failed to prove my involvement in the firing incident."

Patal said he asked the home minister, the inspector general of police (IGP) and all others concerned to investigate the murder through a competent agency and take all-out steps so that the killers were brought to justice.

He said a brother of the victim filed a case after the killing and there was no mention of his name in the FIR.

Ruhul Quddus Dulu said no BNP activist was involved in the incident. "The person arrested in connection with the killing is the son of a local AL leader."

The arrested man, Arif, is not a member of the Jubo Dal or any front organisation of the BNP and his father was the UP chairman of Mamtaz Uddin's area for about 12 years, he added.

BNP Joint Secretary General Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, central leaders Mofiqul Hasan Tripty and Emran Saleh Prince were present at the press conference.