BNP warns against relocation of Zia’s grave

Accusing the government of conspiring to relocate the grave of its founder Ziaur Rahman from parliament area out of political vengeance, the BNP on Tuesday warned that any such move will only invite a dangerous situation to the country, reports UNB news agency.

“We’ve come to know the housing and public works ministry has decided to remove Ziaur Rahman’s grave on a plea that no space was kept aside for any grave in the parliament area in the original design of world famous architect Louis I Kahn,” said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He further said, “Zia’s grave is now there in the hearts of crores of people. We want to say any move to relocate it will create a terrible situation in the country. The consequence won’t be good if such an audacity to remove the grave is shown. People will foil their all evil efforts. The nationalist force will prevent such a plan by sacrificing their last drop of blood, if necessary.”

The BNP leader alleged that the government has brought the issue of removing Zia’s grave to hide the recent incidents of Bangladesh Bank’s money heist, Tonu murder, killing people in police firing at Banshkhali and ruling party’s ‘unprecedented’ vote rigging and violence in the Union Parishad polls.

He observed that the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, cannot tolerate Ziaur Rahman and his family members for their ‘huge’ popularity. “The prime minister is always prompted by a wild instinct of retribution. She can’t alleviate her vengeance by carrying out bloody attacks on the Zia family and the nationalist forces. So, now she has made Zai’a grave her target.”

The BNP leader also said there is no single example in the world that any virtuous citizen’s grave is removed in any country in such a manner.

He came down heavily on speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as a committee was formed at a meeting presided by her on 29 March to bring the original design of Louis I Kahn from the USA in a bid to shift Zia’s grave to somewhere else.

He said the speaker turned the parliament into an auditorium to sing the song praising prime minister Sheikh Hasina. “It’s possible for her to take democracy annihilating steps as she has to work taking into consideration the prime minister’s vindictive wishes.”

Rizvi said Zia’s grave is not creating any obstacle to running the activities of the parliament.
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