| Submit your comments on this article |
| Bangladesh |
| Concern grows within BNP |
| 2010-07-26 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] The BNP ranks are worried about some of their leaders who are on the government's list of suspected war criminals. To add to their worries, the party high command has yet to decide what steps to take if any leader is arrested for complicity in war crimes in 1971, said BNP insiders. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior joint secretary general, said the central executive committee will meet on July 31 to discuss, among others, the war crimes issue and draw up a policy guideline. Chairperson Khaleda Zia will preside over the meeting, first since the party's national council in December last year. Asked what they will do if any leader is arrested like five top Jamaat leaders, he said though the standing committee, highest decision-making body in BNP, has not yet discussed anything in this regard, the chairperson can take any decision anytime in consultation with others. Meanwhile, some senior leaders said since the issue is "totally political", the party will face it politically. "There's no war criminal in our party. But if the government wants to harass our leaders in the name of trial, we will face it politically," one of them yesterday told The Daily Star in return for anonymity. Party sources said a top-ranking BNP leader and his brother, both of whom are on the primary list of alleged war criminals, have recently met Khaleda Zia. The sources however could not say what was discussed in that meeting. Talking to The Daily Star, a central BNP leader said they will protest if any of their colleagues is detained. The party won't sit idle if its leaders are thrown into jail. "A person can be arrested if there's enough evidence against him. But the government cannot harass political leaders on the basis of perception," he added. Another leader said the party should take a tough line if the government tries to arrest any of its leaders on war crime charges. After the arrest of Jamaat leaders on June 29, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said they will stand by Jamaat, but will not participate in any protest programmes. |
| Posted by:Fred |