Turning down the allegation of BNP leaders that Awami League is going to establish political ‘dynasty’, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday charged BNP with establishing and practicing the culture of political ‘dynasty’ in Bangladesh, reports BSS. ‘Not Awami League, it is BNP which patronizes and practices the culture of political ‘dynasty’ in the country,’ he told a press briefing at his office at Secretariat here.
Castigating a comment of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the minister said, ‘I want to ask them (BNP) how Ishraq Hossain, son of Sadek Hossain Khoka, got the nomination for the mayoral post of Dhaka South City Corporation polls. Did he do politics?.’ ‘How Tabith Awal got the nomination in the first time. What was his qualification? His father is a vice chairman of BNP. Is it his qualification?,’ said Hasan, also joint general secretary of Awami League.
He said BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia initiated the process of political dynasty in her party. ‘She (Khaleda Zia) gave her sister Khurshid Zahan Haque the leadership of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal (women wing of BNP). Later, she (Khurshid) was made vice chairman of BNP. After that, Begum Khaleda Zia made Khurshid the minister for women and children affairs.’ Her (Begum Zia) brother Sayeed Iskander was a lawmaker and she created a special post ‘special secretary general’ for Iskandar in BNP, the minister said, adding that her brother Shamim Iskander controlled all business of Bangladesh Biman.
He said Khaleda Zia appointed her nephew Saiful Islam Duek, son of her sister Beauty, as her personal secretary after assuming office in 2001. Duke misused his power and occupied a government building, he said adding his (Duek) brother was made president of Nilphamari unit of BNP.
The minister said, ‘One fine morning we saw that Begum Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman was made the senior joint secretary general of the party. And now, Begum Zia is the chairperson of the party while her son Tarique is the acting vice chairman, though they both are convicted by the courts in graft cases.’
Besides, Hasan said BNP leader Nitai Roy Chowdhury and his daughter Nipun Roy Chowdhury are the members of BNP central committee while standing committee member of BNP Gayshwar Chandra Ray’s son is a member BNP central committee. On the other hand, Mirza Abbas is a member of BNP Standing Committee and his wife is the president of Mohila Dal, he added. ‘So, I want to say that the allegation of Fakhrul Islam is not applicable for Awami League. It is applicable for BNP. In our party (AL), no one gets post for his or her family reason,’ Hasan said.
Criticizing the comment of Mirza Fakhrul on DSCC mayoral candidate of AL, the minister said Barrister Fazle Nur Taposh is a renowned lawyer of the country. ‘He (Taposh) was elected a member of parliament (MP) for three times. The party (AL) nominated him on the basis of his acceptance and capability,’ he added. Replying to a query, Hasan said Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, son of former mayor of Chattogram City Corporation Mohiuddin Chowdhury, has proved that he is capable as a lawmaker and also deputy education minister. Nowfel was also proved his capability as organizing secretary of AL, he added.
He said, ‘I firmly believe that it was a time-befitting decision to give the charge of Jubo League to Sheikh Fazle Nur Porash as he is a well educated person. He did his masters in English literature from a university of the USA. And now, he is a teacher by profession at North South University.’ ‘So, I want to tell BNP leaders that no one gets post in Awami League for family reason. It is BNP who practices the culture of political dynasty,’ Hasan said.