Staff Correspondent
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Wednesday said that Khaleda Zia would be tried in the court of countrymen for, what he said, her crime against humanity in connection with the killing of people by hurling petrol bombs.
"The Chairperson of the BNP, Khaleda Zia, will be charged charged with the crime against humanity as per the charter of the United Nations if she does not stop the ongoing violence in the name of the blockade. Your trial for the crimes will be held in people's court," he said.
Tofail, also an Advisory Council Member of Awami League, came up with the remarks while addressing a rally organised by Jatiya Sramik League at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital with its President Shukkur Mahmud in the chair.
 He urged Khaleda that no one in the world could achieve their demand through terrorism and militant activities in the past. "You'll not be able to do so this time, too," he said.
He urged the BNP chairperson to feel the pains of victims of burned people. "Try to feel when near and dear ones are lost as your (Khaleda) son Koko died.
The minister, however, prayed to the Almighty for the eternal peace of Koko's departed soul, Tofail said, "The screams of the relatives of fire victims at the burn unit (of DMCH) have shaken Allah's throne. Had it not been the case with your son meeting with such an untimely death? The Almighty Allah has created such a condition to make you feel like that."
The Commerce Minister said Allah has taken the life of Khaleda's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko to make her feel the pains and shocks of the mothers who have lost their children in violence during the BNP-led 20-party's ongoing movement.
Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, died in Malaysia on Saturday.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif alleged that BNP leaders and activists were violating the hartal and blockade programmes as they ride vehicles and ask others to avoid that. "Please shun this double standard."
"We want to clearly tell you to stop petrol bomb attacks by your party cadres. The people of Bangladesh will annihilate your party leaders if any more people are killed in arson attacks on vehicles," he added.