Dhaka, Oct 22 (Just News): The prime minister came down heavily on Jatiya Oikyafront leader Barrister Moinul Hosein over a comment on a female journalist on a television live show.
Speaking at press conference on Monday, she also claimed that Mainul, the son of Bangabandhu’s trusted ally Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia, was behind the killing of martyred intellectual Sirajuddin Hossain.
The media call at the PM’s official residence the Ganabhaban was meant to brief on Hasina’s recent Saudi Arabia visit. The prime minister also took questions on current events of Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina said she knew many of his offences and would disclose those at an appropriate time.
The premier also raised the question about Moinul’s attitude on the TV live show, saying that what you are expecting from whom?
She said it’s Moinul who collaborated with Pakistanis during the liberation war and he was also responsible for abducting eminent journalist Sirajuddin Hossain from Ittefaq.
The prime minister said Barrister Moinul joined Khandaker Moshtaque’s party after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975 and then he formed a party with Bangabandhu’s self-confessed killers Bazlul Huda, Aziz Pasha and Sultan Shahriar Khan. “So how would you expect a gentle behavior from him,” she questioned.
Sheikh Hasina also advised the female journalists to protest against Barrister Moinul. “Lodge cases against him, the law enforcement agencies and the government will do whatever necessary in this regard,” she said.
Mainul’s father Tofazzal Hossain popularly known as Manik Mia was the editor of Daily Ittefaq until his death in 1969.
Once the chairman of Ittefaq’s editorial board, Mainul is now the publisher and head of the editorial board of English daily the New Nation.
Mainul’s brother Anwar Hossain Monju, a minister in Hasina administration, now owns Ittefaq following a 2010 deal among the brothers who have been involved in a long drawn out rivalry.
“He (Mainul) even got murdered someone in Ittefaq (offices) and later tried to frame his brother,” Hasina said on Monday.
When Mainul returned from the UK in the early 60s after getting his law degree, his father had to employ a cook for preparing British foods for his son, said the prime minister. “Our family had very good relations with their family.”
Hasina said that Mainul had learnt to eat like a British, but did not learn etiquettes. “Not everyone knows these, but I know. And I know more which I will share later.”
Detective Branch of police on Monday night picked up Mainul Hosein from the residence of the Front’s top leader ASM Abdur Rob.
‘Barrister Mainul Hosein has been arrested from Uttara in a case filed against him in Rangpur,’ said Detective Branch deputy commissioner (north) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Mashiur Rahman.
Mainul went to Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction president ASM Rob’s residence at Uttara around 9:30pm and Detective Branch police picked Mainul Hosein from Rob’s residence around 10:10 pm, said a staff of the JSD leader.
(Justnews/ys/2300hr)
