Zia more powerful as son again accommodated in party
December 10th, 2009 - 12:16 pm ICT by IANSDhaka, Dec 10 (IANS) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has created the post of a senior vice president for former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s London-based son Tarique Rahman, making her even more powerful in the party, media reports said.
Tarique’s appointment was “pushed through” at “a closed-door session” by middle-level leaders in the party’s national council meeting. It was barely 11 hours after he spoke of his health condition and left the decision to the party delegates in a pre-recorded message, The Daily Star said Thursday.
A powerful joint general secretary when his mother ruled the country during 2001-06, Tarique is convalescing in London for the last one year from ailments compounded during several months of jail term in 2007-08 on charges of corruption.
Zia, who is the opposition leader in parliament, lost the parliamentary poll last year. Her party has witnessed internal problems, forcing her to convene the national council meeting after 17 years.
Some delegates asked her of the decision to create a post to appoint Tarique.
“You’ve (councillors) brought the proposal and again it’s you who’ve supported it. So what else can I say?” an emotional Khaleda replied.
According to the new party constitution, a number of new posts have been created. There will be two special assistants for the party chairperson who would designate their status in the party.
The BNP was founded by Zia’s husband and then president Ziaur Rahman in 1978 to bolster his position after he took over as chief martial law administrator. He was killed in a military putsch in May 1981, forcing his widow to take over the party leadership.
- Khaleda Zia plans a job for her son - Oct 20, 2009
- Respect opposition, Zia tells rival Hasina (Lead) - Dec 08, 2009
- Zia's son may return to party fold - Dec 08, 2009
- Deals with India top Bangladesh opposition's protest agenda - Sep 09, 2010
- BNP protests court indictment of Ziaur Rahman - Mar 24, 2011
- Corruption evidence against Zia, says anti-graft body - Nov 23, 2010
- Khaleda Zia's son, 29 others indicted in 2004 bombing - Mar 18, 2012
- Bangladesh's former PM evicted amid protests (Fourth Lead) - Nov 13, 2010
- Dhaka presses graft charges against Khaleda Zia's son - Jul 07, 2010
- Bangladesh asks Zia's son to surrender - Aug 20, 2010
- Hasina's son arrives from US, Zia's sons face arrest - Mar 01, 2010
- Bangladesh opposition stages mass hunger strike - May 21, 2012
- Move to withdraw case against Zia's son - Dec 22, 2009
- Murmurs of dissent as Hasina re-elected Awami League chief - Jul 25, 2009
- Khaleda Zia put under house arrest, says Bangladesh opposition (Second Lead) - Nov 13, 2010
Tags: bangladesh nationalist party, bangladesh nationalist party bnp, daily star, former prime minister, general secretary, health condition, jail term, khaleda zia, level leaders, martial law, national council meeting, opposition leader, parliamentary poll, party constitution, party delegates, party leadership, putsch, recorded message, senior vice president, tarique rahman