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Bangladesh Nationalist Party has suspended all the party posts held by Advocate Fazlur Rahman, a member of the BNP chairperson’s Advisory Council and a valiant freedom fighter, for three months.

‘Yes, Fazlur Rahman’s all party posts have been suspended for three months,’ a joint assistant office secretary of the party told UNB on Tuesday, wishing anonymity.

According to the suspension letter, a show-cause notice had been issued against Fazlur Rahman on August 24.

‘Instead of submitting a written reply, he sought more time, which was extended by 24 hours on Monday. But the reply he submitted today was deemed unsatisfactory,’ the source said.

The suspension letter says, ‘Nevertheless, considering your contribution to the Liberation War as a valiant freedom fighter, no stern organisational action is being taken against you. Instead, your primary membership along with all posts at every level of the party has been suspended for three months under directive.’

The letter also warned him to exercise caution while speaking in talk shows or on social media, ensuring that the country’s image and the party’s policies are not undermined and that the religious sentiments of the people are not hurt.

Earlier, Fazlur Rahman had submitted a written response to the show-cause notice.

His wife, Advocate Umme Kulsum Rekha, told reporters that the reply had been delivered to the party’s central office by a special messenger, and that he would not be speaking to journalists at this stage.

The four-page reply on his personal pad addressed in detail the queries raised by the party, she said, adding that the response was written to BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

In his written reply, Fazlur Rahman stated, ‘I have never spoken or acted in a manner that could harm my beloved party, BNP, nor will I ever do so. I have the highest confidence in the judgement of the leadership of the nationalist party. I hope for justice and shall always remain loyal to any decision taken in the greater interest of the party.’

On August 24, BNP issued the show-cause notice to Fazlur Rahman following his repeated ‘controversial’ remarks regarding the July-August mass uprising.

The notice, signed by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, was delivered to his Dhaka address through a special messenger.

The notice accused him of persistently making ‘crude and misleading statements’ about the historic uprising and the sacrifices of martyrs, which were ‘completely contrary to the party’s ideology and the spirit of the uprising’.

‘Your remarks against this mass uprising and on the movement to restore democracy have sparked intense public reaction. Many believe your statements are a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the party,’ it said.

The notice also alleged, ‘You have even hurt the religious sentiments of people through your comments. During the July-August uprising, over 450 BNP leaders and activists, along with nearly 1,500 students and members of the public, were martyred, and more than 30,000 sustained serious injuries. You are repeatedly dishonouring and belittling this heroic role of students and the public in the struggle to restore democracy.’

The notice asked him to explain within 24 hours why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for making ‘bizarre and undisciplined statements’, directing that the reply be submitted in writing to the party’s central office in Nayapaltan.