The Awami League (AL) yesterday accused its arch-rival BNP of being involved in the knife attack on Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) teacher Prof. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal. “This is true that the attack is a conspiracy and the BNP is giving shelter to those who are hatching such conspiracies against the country. The matter is clear as to who the attackers are and who patronises them,” AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, was talking to reporters while distributing party leaflets in the city’s Gulistan area ahead of the ruling party’s March 7 rally.

On Saturday, a man in his mid-twenties had stabbed Zafar around 5.40pm on the SUST campus. Zafar is now undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka and his condition is stated to be out of danger.

Condemning the attack, Quader said the government would not compromise with such conspirators. “Those who are involved in the attack will be identified and brought to justice soon,” he added.

The minister also said the attack was aimed at creating anarchy in the country ahead of the next general election.

Referring to the attacker’s claim that Zafar “was an enemy of Islam”, the AL leader said Zafar has not played any anti-Islamic role in the country. “I don’t think anyone in the country knows anything about Zafar’s anti-Islamic role,” he added.

Quader said communal forces were trying to convey the message through the attack on Zafar that they were preparing to carry out more attacks in the country. “So, we'll have to remain alert to avoid any untoward situation,” he added.

The minister said the government was not sitting idle and the intelligence agencies were working relentlessly to curb such incidents.

Public works minister and AL executive committee member Mosharraf Hossain and party central leaders Hasan Mahmud, Ashim Kumar Ukil, AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, Shahe Alam Murad and others accompanied Quader.