Tarique Rahman apologises to former SSF chief Fatemi Rumi

BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman has apologised to former Special Security Force (SSF) director general Major General (Retd) Fatemi Rumi over an incident that occurred during a political march years ago.

The apology came last night (9 December) during a views-exchange meeting with retired members of the armed forces at the BNP chairperson's political office in Gulshan. Tarique joined the event virtually from London and made an apology at the end of his speech.

A total of 101 retired officials from the army, navy and air force attended the meeting, presided over by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and conducted by Major General (Retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar.

"I am trying to see someone on the screen… this is a personal matter, yet I want to mention it here," Tarique said. "Rumi sahib, you must remember a march from Old Dhaka to Aminbazar. I walked the entire way; my mother [Begum Khaleda Zia] was also there. Amid the huge crowd, you told me something and I reacted a bit rudely. I am very sorry for that. I tried to reach you for a long time but never got the chance. Today I finally have. I apologise for that incident."

Speaking about his mother, he added, "Before falling seriously ill, the last event she attended was the Armed Forces Day reception on 21 November. She was unwell even before going, and doctors advised her not to attend. Still, she gathered all her strength and went. My sister-in-law later said that being there lifted her spirits so much that she almost forgot she was sick."

Khaleda to attend Armed Forces Day reception

Tarique said the episode reflected the Zia family's longstanding bond with the armed forces.

He further claimed that "a negative perception" about BNP, Ziaur Rahman, and Khaleda Zia had been cultivated "during the past autocratic regime" to create distance between the military and the party.

"I think that misconception has been cleared today," he said.