Swadhinata Padak cancel: BNP criticises govt

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday criticised the government for its move to withdraw Shwadhinata Padak conferred on late president Ziaur Rahman.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a briefing at the party’s central office said that the party and entire nation were ‘stunned’ and ‘concerned’ reading a news headline in a Bengali daily that ‘Swadhinata Padak’ conferred on Ziaur Rahman was being withdrawn.

He said that legally elected BNP government led by Khaleda Zia conferred the highest state honour on late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2003. At the same time Shwadhinata Padak was given to ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’ and late president Ziaur Rahman, Fakhrul said, adding that this was a bright example of political generosity.

BNP had taken the decision for establishing politics of unity, he said.

He said that the present ‘controversial’ Awami League government was making decision to withdraw the award given by a totally legally elected government.

He said that a cabinet committee meeting decided to cancel Shwadhinata Padak given to Ziaur Rahman.