Akbar protests implicating BNP in attack

The incident was a sequel to an intra-party conflict of local Awami League, he said.

Akbar, also vice president of national executive committee and convenor of Comilla district BNP, at a press briefing at his secretariat office said the AL blamed the ruling party in a planned way for creating political unrest in the country.

He said the relation between BNP and AL in Comilla is very cordial and there has been no incident of confrontation for long. "Leaders of both the parties in Comilla maintain social and political relations and there is no confrontation between the two parties despite having groupings," he added.

"I want to categorically say that none from BNP was at all involved with the attack on the Awami League leader. It was an intra-party conflict of the AL and its activists are responsible for the attack," he said.

Besides, statement of the injured AL leader proved that Mujibul Haq came under attack by his partymen, the minister said.

Akbar said the government has instructed the law enforcing agencies to arrest the criminals involved in the attack through neutral investigation.

He also urged the AL to take disciplinary action against the activists involved in the incident. "Don't call hartal to cause suffering to the people. Rather, it will save the real criminals."

The shipping minister also urged all political parties not to give shelter to any criminal and politicise crime.