South Asia Times News Bulletin

  A court in Dhaka has ordered arrest of the son of an influential BNP leader from party's 'loyalist camp' for "derogatory" remarks against party chief Khaleda Zia.

The metropolitan magistrate court issued the arrest warrant against BNP standing committee member Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui's son, Chowdhury Irad Ahemd Siddiqui late on Sunday, who last week alleged that Zia had demanded Taka 5 crore in exchange of a party ticket for contesting the upcoming mayoral election in Dhaka.

"I will be very frank' in telling you (what happened)... she asked for Taka 5 crore from me. I told her that I will not give her the money from my bank account since I am neither a Mosaddak Ali Falu nor a Mirza Abbas (two BNP leaders having corruption records)," Irad told reporters last week.

Tanveer Siddiqui, who was also present at the press conference, later said he disagreed with his son as protests mounted in the party demanding his expulsion from BNP.

Irad's comments sparked a massive uproar in the media and in BNP camp also endangering the position of his father Tanveer Sidiqui, known to be a stalwart of the BNP's 'loyalist camp' as he earlier floated a proposal to make Zia the 'lifetime leader of the party'.

Police said they would enforce the warrant following the appropriate procedure but sources close to Irad said he could surrender before the court to seek bail.

The case against Irad was lodged by another party standing committee member retired brigadier general Hannan Shah as an 'aggrieved person'.

BNP standing committee earlier issued a notice demanding an explanation from Tanveer Siddiqui in 72 hours while the party's highest decision making body was supposed to decide his fate in the BNP two days ago.

The meeting, however, was postponed after he submitted the reply of the notice.

Tanveer Siddiqui at a briefing on 10th March termed his son's comments on the BNP chairperson "unfortunate and shocking".

"What Irad said about Khaleda Zia was his misperception. What he has said is not true," he told newsmen.