Dhaka: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday warned the government that the country’s people will never accept its ‘imprudent’ move to remove Ziaur Rahman’s grave from parliament area.

‘Bringing Louis I Kahn’s main design (of parliament) abruptly is a blueprint and the main motive behind is to remove Ziaur Rahman’s grave. People will never accept it and allow them (govt) to make it happen,’ he said.

Fakhrul further said, ‘This government is deliberately trying to eliminate the names and signs of the main heroes of the Liberation War, especially that of Ziaur Rahman who proclaimed the country’s independence. But, it won’t be possible to do that as his name his deeply rooted in people’s hearts. No conspiracy can separate Zia from people,’ he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while placing wreaths at Ziaur Rahman’s grave along with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Projonmo, marking its founding anniversary.

Louis I Kahn’s original design of parliament reached in Dhaka on Thursday from the US’ Pennsylvania University.

Housing and Public Works Ministry last year proposed removing eight graves, including BNP founder Zia’s one, and some other establishments, set up in the parliament area distorting the original design of Louis I Kahn.

As per the original design, the Bangladesh Secretariat was supposed to be there at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

After his assassination at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981, Ziaur Rahman was primarily buried at Rangunia in Chittagong on the same day, but his body was retrieved from the grave and flown to Dhaka the following day and buried at Chandrima Udyan in the parliament area.

Fakhrul said the Liberation War spirit is now deported while freedom fighters are being repressed under the rule of current Awami League-led government.

He also alleged that the government is plotting to keep BNP leaders away from politics as it has got isolated from people.

About Narayanganj City Corporation polls, the BNP leader said their party thinks there is no possibility of a fair election under the current Election Commission. ‘We’re in the election race for the sake of democracy, though the Commission has no capability to hold an acceptable election.’

Fakhrul renewed his party’s demand for deployment of army in ensuring a fair balloting.