Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed on Friday protested the filing of a case against BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for the murder of Col Khondkar Nazmul Huda Bir Bikram 48 years back.
“Ziaur Rahman had no scope to know who killed Nazmul Huda as was held captive at that time. Ziaur Rahman was not involved in this murder in any way,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at his party’s Tejgaon office, Oli alleged that the case was filed as part of a ploy to confuse people.
"The case was filed as part of a well-thought-out plan to divert people's attention to a different direction ahead of the election. We would like to ask them not to resort to lies," the former BNP minister said.
Earlier on Thursday, Col Khondkar Nazmul Huda Bir Bikram’s daughter Naheed Izaher Khan filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka over the killing of her father on November 7, 1975.
In the case, Naheed made Maj (retd) Abdul Jalil of the 10th East Bengal Regiment accused and claimed that the killing was carried out as per Ziaur Rahman's instruction.
Oli, also a freedom fighter and a Bir Bikram, questioned the motive behind filing of the case 48 years after the incident.
"I would like to tell her (Naheed) mother you didn’t do a good job by filing the case after such a long time ahead of the election. Martyr President Ziaur Rahman was in no way involved in it,” he said.
He said Col Khondkar Nazmul Huda’s wife could have filed the case many times earlier during Ershads rule or Awami League’s rule in 1996.
“This case was filed now to mislead the nation by creating a smoke screen ahead of the election. But The nation won’t be confused as they have set a goal to get rid of the current intolerable situation, stop corruption and all tyranny, and ensure basic human rights,” the LDP chief observed.
Oli said their party wants the assurance of a free and fair election. "We are not against the Prime Minister or against Awami League and any party. We only want to freely cast our votes in the election and no gunmen will be there in the polling station and no one will take away our votes at night.”
Earlier in the day, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged Col Huda's daughter filed a case against their party founder Ziaur Rahman on the charge of killing three army officers in 1975 at the behest of the government to confuse people.
“The case has been filed as per the instruction of the Prime Minister. As Sheikh Hasina and her government are now in deep trouble, they want to confuse people,” he said.
Rizvi said Colonel Huda's daughter did not read the book written by her mother Nilufar Huda titled “The War of Colonel Huda and Me” before filing the case.
In her book, the BNP leader said Nilufar Huda mentioned that Ziaur Rahmann ordered Colonel Nawazish to ensure the safety of Khaleda Musharraf and Colonel Huda. “She (Naheed) filed the case on Sheikh Hasina's order.”