DHAKA: Staging a restrained demonstration in the restriction-bound capital Thursday against the cancellation of Coco’s parole, the main opposition BNP asked the government to shun politics of ‘vengeance and conspiracy’.

Standing committee member of the party Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain made the plea from the demonstration at Muktangon against the government decision to cancel Arafat Rahman Coco`s parole and "propaganda" against his elder Tarique Rahman.

"The government is pursuing politics of vengeance against the Zia family. They are hatching conspiracies, one after another, to hide their failure to run the country," Mosharraf said.

Party Vice-chairman and ex-air force chief Altaf Hossain Chowdhury presided over the programme that started at about 11:45am and ended at 1:30pm, without any attempt made to march out as government authorities have banned street protests.

Khandaker Mosharraf also demanded immediate withdrawal of the cancellation order and unconditional release of Coco, who is abroad for treatment following release on parole from jail.

Senior Joint Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also spoke on the occasion, highly criticizing government policies and actions.

The leaders of the former ruling party, from the protest rally, also alleged that the government is “plotting to destroy the nationalist force”.

Earlier on August 19, the government cancelled the parole of ex-PM Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and called him back home, as there are cases pending against him.

The Ministry of Home Affairs took the decision on grounds that he “broke the terms and conditions” of his release on parole, official sources said.

Coco and his elder Tarique Rahman were set free from jail at the fag-end of the past military-backed interim regime for their treatment abroad.

Coco is in Thailand while Tarique in England under treatment. Government leaders, however, contend that both are now up and doing and stay abroad to dodge trial.   

BDST: 1540 HRS, AUG 26, 2010