'We deliberately transferred the former DC because the government is ours'

BNP's defeated candidate for the Kushtia-4 (Kumarkhali-Khoksa) constituency, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi, has claimed that he and his party orchestrated the transfer of the former Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia.

Speaking at a discussion organised by the Kushtia district administration on the occasion of Independence Day on Thursday, the former BNP MP said, "We deliberately transferred the former Deputy Commissioner. Because the government is ours. I did not realise he would act the way he did. Had we known, we would have taken action earlier."

Expressing his anger over the conduct of former DC Iqbal Hossain during the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Rumi said, "I was defeated in the election. Some traitors in the administration, along with some traitors within our party, conspired to defeat me by a margin of 5,000 votes. I received 1,40,000 votes."

"I would have won by a margin of 100,000 votes, but they did not allow it. I do not know what my crime is. Perhaps speaking out and trying to tell the truth is my crime," he added.

Rumi said he has filed a petition with the High Court for a recount of votes in that constituency. "The High Court has accepted it. The hearing is on June 24. I believe the votes will be recounted, and I will be declared the winner."

The veteran BNP leader also claimed that the alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami was a political mistake. "I would say our alliance with Jamaat was definitely a mistake. They are a clandestine party. I have been in politics for 60 years; I am 73 years old. I played a significant role in the Liberation War. There are many who carry the title of freedom fighter but played no role. I know many such people. I was born in this Kushtia city. When I was fighting in the Liberation War, many of those here today were not even born."