BNP on Tuesday warned that the government will have to face dire consequences if it removes the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman from Chandrima Udyan in the capital.

“The current regime has been spreading ruthless, cruel and disgusting lies about the body of Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, his grave and even his contribution to the Liberation War,” said BNP organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayaplatan central office, he also alleged that many ministers being inspired by the Prime Minister are making ‘unguarded’ comments against Zia only to be there in her good book. “Their only job is to lie, spit venom, assassinate characters and distort the Liberation War history.”

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He asked the ministers who are making ‘derogatory remarks’ against Zia to tell people under which sector they fought in the battlefield during the Liberation War? "We want to say firmly that if the worst thing, like removing the body of Zia, is done, they'll have to face dire consequences. Their hands will be broken, crushed and burnt.”

On Monday, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said the government will remove the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman from the parliament premises.

He also said the gallantry title conferred on Zia for his role in the Liberation War will also be annulled based on documentary evidence about his involvement in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The minister also asked BNP to prove Zia’s body is there in Chandrima Udyan. ”I’ll apologise to the nation if it’s proved that Zia’s body is there.”

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Prince criticised the minister for what he said were such ‘discourteous’ comments involving Zia’s grave and DNA test. “The Liberation Affairs Minister himself defamed the freedom fighters by making false remarks against a sector commander of the Liberation War.”

He said those who are lying about Zia and the outstanding contributions of Z Force under his leadership will be thrown into the dustbin of history. “The nation is rejecting them with hatred.”

The BNP leader said Zia needs not to take a Liberation War certificate from those who lived in Kolkata at that time. “The common people of Bangladesh gave him that certificate. We condemn and protest the indecent and false remarks by the ministers about Ziaur Rahman, his body and grave.”