A Bangladeshi minister alleged that the country’s former President Ziaur Rahman was an ally of Pakistan posing as a freedom fighter. The minister leveled the allegation against Zia citing a letter reportedly sent by a Pakistani army officer to Zia wherein the former praised the latter’s work in the interest of Pakistan. 

Information Minister Hasan Mahmood’s statement came on Sunday. He was speaking at a program to mark World Radio Day. Ziaur Rahman, the former president and the founder of the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), was a military officer who assumed power after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman got assassinated by a group of young army officers in 1975. His widow, Khaleda Zia, who leads the BNP is currently in prison on corruption charges. 

AKM Mazemmal Haqau, Bangladesh’s minister of Liberation War Affairs,  also alleged that the former president was involved in the killing of Sheikh Mujib, the nation's founder. 

“Ziaur Rahman was involved in the killing… we have the proof. We’ll place evidence before the nation in due time….wait and see,” the minister was quoted as saying by UNB. On the other hand, BNP, the main opposition party in Bangladesh, denied his claim. 

Earlier on Tuesday last week, the National Freedom Fighter Council had recommended revoking the Bir Uttam title - the second-highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh - of Ziaur Rahman. Information minister Hasan Mahmood however, said the government is yet to take a final call on the issue. 

The BNP, however, warned the government against the move. “You (government) are playing with fire by conspiring to repeal his (Zia’s) title and your hands will be burnt to ashes. No one has the right to touch his title,” senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was quoted as saying by UNP. 

The party also announced nationwide protests against the government’s move to strip the late Zia of his title.