Books on Zia, Khaleda launched
(From left) BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, journalist Shafik Rehman and Group 2009 President Sayeeful Islam at the launching of seven books at Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday.Photo: STAR
Eleven days after “an intelligence agency instructed” cancelling their booking of a second venue, Group-2009, a pro-BNP research organisation, launched seven books on late president Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Jatiya Press Club yesterday. Khaleda unveiled the covers of the books, penned and edited by journalist Shafik Rehman, but did not address the programme. The launching was supposed to be held at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel on March 27. The organisers alleged that they had first booked the Pan Pacific Sonargaon ballroom on February 27 to hold the launching on March 27. But the hotel authority cancelled the reservation on March 18, stating that the prime minister's office wanted the ballroom for the same day. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the launching became a “protest rally” against the government's attempts to suppress “freedom of speech” and “freedom of opinion”. Shafik Rehman, organiser of Group 2009, said he was compelled to write the books as there were “continuous distortions of the country's history regarding proclamation of independence and the liberation movement.” At one stage of his speech, Shafik requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to go to India or the US as she had a long experience of living in those destinations. “The prime minister advised Khaleda Zia to go to Pakistan. Why should Khaleda Zia go to Pakistan? She (Khaleda) already stated that Bangladesh is her only address,” he said. Last month, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked Khaleda to leave for Pakistan after alleging that she received money from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence before the 1991 election. The books are Statesman Ziaur Rahman, Democratic Leader Khaleda Zia, “Rastranayak Ziaur Rahman”, “Sangrami Netri Khaleda Zia”, “Chittagong Polo Ground Lunthan”, “Nerikukurer Kanda” and “Nerikukurer Kirti”. BNP standing committee member Tariqul Islam and political scientist Prof Talukder Maniruzzaman spoke at the programme with Group 2009 President Sayeeful Islam in the chair.
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