Denying the house, Khwab, being palatial, Mamun said the house belonged to his wife. He termed false top-level officials' visiting his house and holding nightlong parties.

Denying to be named a sidekick of BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, Mamun denied allegations of controlling various industries, postings, transfers and contracts.

He also opposed that Tk 8 crore has been spent on the house.

Mamun also denied that few hundred workers toiled one and a half years to renovate the house and said 'the house was renovated gradually over a period of time with usual number of workers as dictated by the construction sector practice in the country'.

Brushing aside his connection with Hawa Bhaban, Mamun denied being the second-in-command of Hawa Bhaban. He argued that 'Hawa Bhaban is not the alternative powerhouse of BNP, rather the personal office of the BNP Chairperson'.

Referring to his 'role in the recent event in the area', Mamun interpreted it as the killing of Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master and following events and said he had no involvement in the killing, which he termed as 'heinous and unforgivable crime'.

OUR REPLY
Our assessment of Tk 8 crore as cost of Khwab derived from engineers. While the rejoinder rejected this assessment, it did not mention any different figure.

The destroyed household goods and fittings that were found piled up on the yard after the rampage bears even now their worth.

Despite his denial of having any connection with Hawa Bhaban, his presence at different Hawa Bhaban high-level functions proves his unofficial position in Hawa Bhaban affairs.

The Daily Star did not link Mamun with the killing of Ahsanullah, but laid out the fact that locals attacked Khwab in an impromptu outburst of protest after the legislator's killing on May 7.