BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said there is no question of Tarique Rahman's resignation from the party post following his conviction in the August 21 grenade attack cases.
"The lower court's verdict is the reflection of political vengeance. It was given with an evil motive to weaken BNP. So, there's no question of Tarique Rahman's resignation based on such a verdict," he said.
He came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, reports UNB.
The BNP leader claimed that Tarique was convicted with a political motive on fabricated charges brought by a partisan investigation officer.
"Even after knowing the fact, some people are suggesting that he (Tarique) should resign from the party. People can question them (who are asking Tarique to quit) whether they demanded government's resignation for indulging in several hundred killings and enforced disappearances," he said.
Fakhrul alleged that a section of media has been making evil attempts to malign Tarique by publishing some 'fabricated' information about him after the announcement of the verdict in the August 21 grenade attack cases.
He hoped that the responsible media will refrain from carrying out propaganda against anyone to appease the government.
On Wednesday, a speedy trial tribunal sentenced 19 people to death, 19 others, including BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, to life imprisonment and eight more to different terms of jail in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004.
Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed at a discussion said the verdict of the August 21 grenade attack cases is not impartial.
He said though Tarique had no involvement in the incident, he was implicated in the cases only to make a political gain.
Zia Parishad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The BNP leader said it is not justified to seek Tarique's resignation from BNP since the verdict is acceptable and neutral. "The verdict was given with a political goal. So, our leader (Tarique) can't resign after conviction through such verdict. It's our party's internal matter. We consider him (Tarique) our leader," he observed.
