DHAKA: A quarter in BNP believes that three particular leaders are responsible for the crisis the party passing through and for annihilating the political career of its up-and-coming leader Tarique Rahman.
The three are the then party Joint-Secretary-General of BNP Harris Chowdhury, former State Minster for Home Lutfozzaman Babar and controversial businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun.
One retired army man and alienated BNP leader told banglanews24.com.bd that “masterminds from Hawa Bhaban controlled recruitment and postings from top to bottom of government administration, apart from tender and business manipulations during the BNP-led government regime”.
He also said they maintained relations with the USA and a neighboring country trying to pull their leverage.
“Babar controlled the administration, Mamun business affairs and Harris Chowdhury maintained political issues,” added the BNP leader.
Babar and Mamun are now behind bars while Harris Chowdhury is on the run to avert getting caught in several corruption cases.
Party-insiders said Hawa Bhaban-backed leaders along with their associates had special power and amassed millions of money during the four-party alliance government.
Media-cell coordinator of Hawa Bhaban Ashik Islam and Tarique Rahman’s personal assistance Nuruddin Apu, Raqibul Islam Bakul and Joy helped execute decisions of the trio. Most of them are now residing abroad.
Another party source said those who reaped benefits using Hawa Bhaban sided with reformists during the emergency rule as they tried to apply ‘minus formula’ to remove ex-PM Khaleda Zia from the party leadership.
Some party leaders are to blame for creating the controversial situation for BNP. They are former secretary-general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former ministers Barrister Aminul Haque, M Morsed Khan, Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu and Rezaul Karim, former MPs Gias Uddin Qader Chowdhury, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Sarder Sakhawat Hossain Bakul, Editor of Daily Dinkal Kazi Siraj, former Juba Dal President Barkat Ullah Bulu and the like.
Suspended BNP Joint-Secretary-General Ashraf Hossain told banglanews24.com.bd, “Hawa Bhaban and its related leaders have damaged BNP, but now they are behind the scene.”
Former adviser to BNP Chairman Khaleda Zia Major General (retd) ZA Khan told banglanews24.com.bd, “I am not interested to say anything about the previous matters. I am not ready to make any comment about Hawa Bhaban and BNP.”
BDST: 2153 HRS, SEP 02, 2010.
