'Ziaur Rahman was a murderer, traitor'

 
Ziaur Rahman will remain as a murderer and betrayer in the pages of history, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud. He was addressing a function marking a photograph exhibition, titled "Bangabandhu o Rupashi Bangla Alokchithra Pradarshani o Sonmanona 2022", jointly organized by Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association (BPJA) and the Shilpakala Academy at an auditorium of the academy.

Hasan Mahmud said, "Ziaur Rahman tainted the politics of Bangladesh and he started the trend of corruption and looting… Zia was one of the main perpetrators of Bangabandhu's assassination. He also killed hundreds of soldiers of the armed forces to cling to power. For this, Zia will remain as a murderer and betrayer in history."

 State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Shilpakala Academy Director General Liakat Ali Lucky, among others, addressed the function.

Hasan said BNP did not hold the trial of Zia killing, adding that BNP was in power twice under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia, but they did not hold the trial of the killing.

Replying to a query over BNP's recent activities, the minister said they are holding meetings with different so-called parties and none know the name of those parties' general secretaries or presidents, which is ridiculous, he added.

--- H T Zakir, AA