Nasim calls Khaleda confused leader

Terming BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia a "confused leader", Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim yesterday said she had ruined her party as well as BNP-led opposition alliance.

"She lost to Sheikh Hasina in the area of politics as she had declared that she would not contest in the polls under Sheikh Hasina's administration, but her party is now contesting [in UP polls] with party's electoral symbol 'sheaf of paddy'," he said.

The health minister and AL presidium member was addressing a discussion on "Bangabandhu's March 7 Speech and Our Independence", organised by the Bangladesh National Alliance (BNA) led by former minister and BNP leader Nazmul Huda at Supreme Court Bar Association.

Nasim appreciated Nazmul Huda and others of the alliance who left BNP, saying Huda had done a good job as he left the party.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said Bangabandhu's March 7 speech was one of the best in the world that gave a clear declaration of war.

Menon lambasted Khaleda as she made controversial remarks on the number of martyrs of the Liberation War.

Such remark is only possible for them who do not believe in independence of Bangladesh and had no relation to the Liberation War, he added.        

Nazmul Huda, convener of Trinamool BNP, read out a keynote   paper on Bangabandhu's March 7 speech, saying the war was carried out in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

After the brutal attack on the Bangalis on March 26 by the Pakistan Army in 1971, Maj Ziaur Rahman announced the independence of Bangladesh on radio on behalf of Bangabandhu as he was inspired and guided by the speech of Mujib, he added.