Staff Reporter :
The ruling Awami League on Sunday officially condoled the death of Arafat Rahman Koko, expecting that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party would withdraw its all ongoing programmes considering the sad demise of the party chairperson’s son.
Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia breathed his last on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“We are condoling the death of Arafat Rahman Koko and praying for the eternal peace of his departed soul and expressing deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family,” AL publicity and publication secretary Hasan Mahmud told journalists at a press conference at party president’s Dhanmondi office in the city. The party senior leaders also termed Saturday night as a ‘golden opportunity’ for initiating talks for dialogue. But the BNP chairperson by keeping her party’s office door closed had actually foiled the opportunity. Earlier on Saturday night, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office to console her following the premature death of her younger son, but Hasina could not meet her as Khaleda was asleep taking sedative.
When asked if BNP continues its political programmes even after the death of Koko, Hasan Mahmud said they hope that a good sense would prevail upon the party to withdraw its all programmes.
“BNP does not show minimum respect to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) as its leaders did not allow Sheikh Hasina to meet and express her condolence to Khaleda Zia following her younger son’s death,” he said. He termed BNP leaders’ behaviour as ‘inhuman, discourteous and devoid of political etiquette’ saying their gesture was not only insolent with the Prime Minister but also discourteous for the office of the PMO.
In another function, Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said keeping her own office door closed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia shut all the doors for dialogue.
“Saturday night had offered a “golden opportunity’ to create an atmosphere for a dialogue. But Khaleda Zia blocked the dialogue by keeping her party office closed,” he said.
Besides, Minister for Relief and Disaster Management Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya yesterday said that they would take part in the Namaz-e-Janaza of Arafat Rahman Koko when his body would be brought to the country.
“Although BNP didn’t show respect to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we will take part in the Namaz-e-Janaza of Arafat Rahman Koko when his body will be brought to the country,” he said while addressing a protest rally at AL central party office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city. Pointing his finger to Khaleda Zia, Maya said there would be no movement in the country during your lifetime as you (Khaleda) called hartal and continued to non-stop blockade amid overwhelmed with grief. Meanwhile, AL Joint Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Sunday said as BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is surrounded by ‘idiots’ and ‘ill-educated’ persons she is being isolated from the people gradually.
“It’s a stupidity attitude towards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as BNP men didn’t allow her (Hasina) to meet Khaleda Zia when she was in deep grief following the death of her son,” Hanif said while addressing at a gathering at Balaka Bhaban in the city
Apart from them, AL Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak yesterday said the whole nation stared at the screen of television to get something good news when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had gone to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office to console her following the death news of Arafat Rahman Koko.
“But Khaleda Zia’s party men foiled the people’s hopes and aspirations. And Khaleda Zia called upon the country’s people to pray for peace of the departed soul of her son and asked the leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance to continue the blockade programme,” said Nanak. Besides, Food Minister Quamrul Islam yesterday rejected outright BNP’s proposal to hold a dialogue saying there is no question about holding dialogue with a political party like BNP that does not have minimum courtesy. “We are determined to resist terrorism and militancy,” he said while addressing a meeting of AL-led-14-party alliance at Purana Paltan in the city.
