Tussle between Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir over a telephone conversation regarding release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has created confusion among people. The confusion has been created following Fakhrul’s comment on Tuesday that he had never made any phone call to Obaidul Quader seeking party chairperson Kheleda Zia’s release on bail or parole.
On the other hand, in response to Fakhrul’s claim, Quader on the same day said that he has evidence of Fakhrul’s phone call to him and their conversation as well. It should be mentioned that Quader on February 14 at a press briefing said that BNP secretary general had phoned him seeking Khaleda Zia’s bail for her treatment purpose.
Quader had further said that he had informed Fakhrul that he (Quader) and also the government had nothing to do with the matter as it depends on the court. After four days, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said he did not discuss anything with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader about Khaleda Zia’s parole.
He made the statement while speaking to reporters after paying tribute to the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman on Tuesday. BNP secretary general also said their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her family will decide whether parole should be sought for her release.
"It’s completely a matter of Madam (Khaleda) and her family, and they will decide it,” he told reporters replying to a question whether there is any possibility of seeking Khaleda’s release on parole. “I clearly told you the other day to ask him [Quader] about this. Why don’t you ask him?” Fakhrul said when reporters asked if he had spoken to Quader on the issue.
“We didn’t speak about any parole as of now, did we? We never did. We will decide if it will be appropriate to talk about this issue.” On the other hand, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader further claimed that BNP secretary general had made a phone call to him about Khaleda’s release on parole.
Speaking at a function at Awami League’s central office at the capital’s Bangabandhu Avenue on Tuesday, Quader also claimed that he has records of what Fakhrul had talked to him. “But I do not want to disclose it. However, if he wants, I will prove it”, said Obaidul Quader.
