BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (September 1, 2022) said his party will form a commission to identify those behind the murder of its founder Ziaur Rahman and put them on trial if the party returns to power.

“I would like to say it clearly that if we come to power, we will form a commission for the trial of those involved in the murder of President Ziaur Rahman. We want to know who were behind the murder,” he said.

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Fakhrul made the remarks after paying homage to Ziaur Rahman by placing wreaths at his grave, marking BNP’s 44th founding anniversary.

This announcement came a day after Law Minister Anisul Huq told parliament that the government was planning to form a commission by December next to identify those behind the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.

Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has let loose its “cadres” and law enforcers to thwart a justified movement of the people – protesting price hike of fuel and daily essentials.

He said police and the ruling party activists attacked their party leaders and activists in different parts of the country, leaving many injured.

Besides, the BNP leader said many leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies were arrested and implicated in different cases.

“We’ve even heard that one of our workers was killed in Fatulla of Narayanganj today (Thursday). We strongly condemn this incident. We demand that the killers be brought to justice immediately,” Fakhrul said.

He warned the government that it will not be able to suppress a just movement for the restoration of democracy by resorting to killing, enforced disappearing, attacks and repression.

Fakhrul, together with senior party leaders, placed wreaths at Zia’s grave around 12pm and joined prayers seeking the salvation of the BNP founder’s departed soul.

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BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, were, among others, present.

Ziaur Rahman founded the party on September 1, 1978 with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. After his assassination on May 30, 1981, his widow Khaleda took over the party leadership.