Kazi Salahuddin reacts to attempted murder charge: “It is very disturbing”

On Sunday, a charge of attempted murder was filed against former Prime Minister and BNP leader Khaleda Zia. The accused in the case include Kazi Salahuddin, president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), and Mominul Haque Sayeed, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF).

The case was filed by musician Asif Imam in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Zaki Al Farabi. After recording the statement of the complainant, the court directed the Motijheel police station to accept the case as an official report (FIR). A total of 50 people were accused, including Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.

Salahuddin has denied the allegations as false. The business standardThe former football star said: “This case has nothing to do with reality. It's just someone's whim. The country has known me for over 50 years. I'm not new here, I'm a former international player of this country. None of this is true. The date mentioned in the case – I wasn't even in the country at that time. It's about an event that happened nine years ago.”

Expressing his disappointment, he added: “It is unfortunate. I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be charged with anything, let alone attempted murder. I do not even participate in politics. I have a few MPs on my board, but I have never sought a nomination or stood for election. That is not my job. I have never been involved in anything other than football. It is deeply sad that such a charge has been brought against me.”

According to the case details, on April 20, 2015, the accused launched an armed attack on Khaleda Zia's motorcade with the intention of killing her during an election rally outside the BNP office. In the attack, 12 to 14 vehicles of her convoy were destroyed, four motorcycles were set on fire and party activists were attacked. Khaleda Zia's bodyguards were reportedly injured in the incident.

Other accused in the case include people with links to Awami League and the 14-party alliance, including Sheikh Helal, Faruk Khan, Nixon Chowdhury, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu and AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed. Actors Zayed Khan, Saju Khadem and Shahriar Nazim Joy have also been named as accused in the same case.