Dhaka, Dec 18 (bdnews24.com)The BNP is set to honour the freedom fighters of the War of Independence in 1971 at a reception in the capital on Wednesday.
The main opposition has invited the war commanders but left out its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami which had opposed the nation's independence and allegedly tortured, raped and killed Bengalees.
BNP Standing Committee Member Tariqul Islam said Jamaat was not invited. "There is no question of inviting Jamaat-e-Islami to this programme of the freedom fighters."
His remarks came in the evening at a media briefing at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters on the function scheduled to be held at the Mahanagar Natyamancha premises at 2pm.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will chair the programme.
Tariqul said, "The programme has been organised to honour all the freedom fighters of the country. We don't believe in politicising the freedom fighters. That's why all of them have been invited irrespective of their political leanings and views."
The function committee's Convenor Sector Commander Shahjahan Omar echoed Tariqul.
"I personally invited Sector Commanders KM Safiullah and Retired Major Rafiqul Islam by telephone. Invitation letters have also been sent to them," he said.
Omar said he could not reach sector commander AK Khander by phone, but an invitation had been sent to him.
BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Metropolitan unit Member Secretary Abdus Salam, freedom fighters Zainul Abdin and Mohammad Rezaul Haque were also present at the press briefing among other party leaders.
BNP leaves Jamaat in the cold | Politics | bdnews24.com
The main opposition has invited the war commanders but left out its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami which had opposed the nation's independence and allegedly tortured, raped and killed Bengalees.
BNP Standing Committee Member Tariqul Islam said Jamaat was not invited. "There is no question of inviting Jamaat-e-Islami to this programme of the freedom fighters."
His remarks came in the evening at a media briefing at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters on the function scheduled to be held at the Mahanagar Natyamancha premises at 2pm.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will chair the programme.
Tariqul said, "The programme has been organised to honour all the freedom fighters of the country. We don't believe in politicising the freedom fighters. That's why all of them have been invited irrespective of their political leanings and views."
The function committee's Convenor Sector Commander Shahjahan Omar echoed Tariqul.
"I personally invited Sector Commanders KM Safiullah and Retired Major Rafiqul Islam by telephone. Invitation letters have also been sent to them," he said.
Omar said he could not reach sector commander AK Khander by phone, but an invitation had been sent to him.
BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Metropolitan unit Member Secretary Abdus Salam, freedom fighters Zainul Abdin and Mohammad Rezaul Haque were also present at the press briefing among other party leaders.
BNP leaves Jamaat in the cold | Politics | bdnews24.com