DHAKA, Oct 15, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu today demanded immediate withdrawal of all 'repressive cases' against former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

He made the call at a discussion organized by Bangladesh Mofasswal Journalists' Association at the Jatiya Press Club here demanding immediate steps to ensure return of Tarique Rahman to his motherland from exile.

Dudu said, "Withdraw all the cases filed against BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia as the cases were filed with vengeance attitudes by deposed dictator Sheikh Hasina . . . And also withdraw the false and repressive cases filed against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to ensure his return to his homeland".

Shamsuzzaman Dudu alleged that BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was brutally tortured.

He said Begum Zia was kept in jail for years by implicating her in several fabricated cases to take revenge.

"The reason behind this was nothing but to take revenge because country's popular leader Begum Khaleda Zia who has always been uncompromising in the movements to establish democracy . . . she also has struggled for the country and its people throughout her life," Dudu added.

This most popular leader of Bangladesh has dedicated her entire life to protect the independence and democracy, he mentioned.

About Tarique Rahman, the BNP leader said, "BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has been sentenced in connection with a false case. He was forced to spend his entire youth life abroad with a false case," Dudu added.

He added: "Not only that, the erstwhile fascist government did not allow his any speech to be published in the newspapers and media of the country. Although the dictator has gone, the cases of both of them are yet to withdraw."

Journalists' association president Sakhawat-Ibne-Moin Chowdhury presided over the discussion while BNP Joint Secretary General and former DUCSU GS Khairul Kabir Khokon,BNP executive committee member and former MP Nazim Uddin Alam, BNP leader Abu Naser Md Rahmatullah, Krishak Dal leader SK Sadi, President of Desh Bachao Manush Bachao Andolan KM Rakibul Islam Ripon, among others,
spoke at the discussion.