BNP smells conspiracy to keep Khaleda away from polls

The BNP is worried about “a deep conspiracy” to keep party chairperson Khaleda Zia away from the next general elections. The fact that the two graft cases filed against Khaleda are being alternately heard every other week has made the party leaders and workers apprehensive that certain quarters want to have their party chairperson disqualified for the upcoming civic polls.

Even as the din over the next elections gets louder, the hearings will come on a weekly basis, the leaders said. This reflects an urge to hurry up the judicial process against the former premier in the two graft cases she has termed as “baseless”, they added.

However, they warned that if the government has the intention to keep Khaleda behind bars during the polls, the consequences will be rather bad.

Keeping a brave front, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed that “no conspiracy” (against Khaleda) would succeed. “No evil wish of the government against the most popular leader (Khaleda) will succeed with the use of either the court or state power,” he claimed.

BNP vice-chairman Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said the government wants to hold the election with Khaleda in prison as it considers her to be main force of the party. “Khaleda Zia is the main force of BNP. The government intentionally wants to hold the election with her in prison,” he added.

He alleged that during the term of the Fakhruddin-Moinuddin-led caretaker government, both Khaleda and Hasina were implicated in nine cases each, almost at the same time and on the same grounds. But the cases against the BNP chief remain pending, even though those against the Awami League president were quashed.

The former minister questioned the independence of the judiciary, saying that the people have seen the situation through the Chief Justice’s resignation. The veteran leader admitted that the party is likely to fall in trouble and the workers will be demoralised if Khaleda is sent to prison. Her presence is needed to raise the tempo before the polls, he added.

Hafizuddin Ahmed, however, expressed belief that the government cannot really do it as there will be a mass upsurge if such an action is taken.

Asked whether they fear that there is a move to keep Khaleda away from the next polls, her counsel, Sanaullah Miah, said this is not merely a “fear”. It is a fact that the government wants to keep her away from the election, he asserted.

“There is an apprehension that a deep-rooted conspiracy is being hatched to prevent Khaleda Zia from taking part in the elections. That’s why court dates have been given every week for the last two years,” he said.

He alleged that the dates are given frequently upon the insistence of the government.

The lawyer added that they will fight the cases legally.

Asked when the hearing on Khaleda’s self-defence statement would end, Sanaullah Miah said it was tough for him to assume a date, but it would take time.

BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said Khaleda Zia has alleged in her self-defence statement that the filing of cases are part of the conspiracy to keep her away from the next elections. The former minister also quoted Khaleda in saying that the cases were filed against her intentionally.

Khaleda on Thursday presented her self-defence statement in the makeshift court of special judge-5 at Bakshibazar for the fifth day. The court asked her to appear again on November 23 to complete her self-defence statements in the two graft cases.

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against four persons, including Khaleda Zia, in Tejgaon police station on August 8, 2010, for carrying out alleged illegal transactions of Tk. 1.15 crore in the name of the Zia Charitable Trust.

The ACC filed another case against six persons, including Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman, in Ramna police station on July 3, 2008, for allegedly misappropriating Tk. 2.10 crore.

BNP smells conspiracy to keep Khaleda away from polls

The BNP is worried about a deep conspiracy to keep party chairperson Khaleda Zia away from the next general elections. The fact that the two graft cases filed against Khaleda are being alternately heard every other week has made the party leaders and workers apprehensive that certain quarters want to have their party chairperson disqualified for the upcoming civic polls. Even as the din over the next elections gets louder, the hearings will come on a weekly basis, the leaders said. This reflects an urge to hurry up the judicial process against the former premier in the two graft cases she has termed as baseless, they added. However, they warned that if the government has the intention to keep Khaleda behind bars during the polls, the consequences will be rather bad. Keeping a brave front, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed that no conspiracy (against Khaleda) would succeed. No evil wish of the government against the most popular leader (Khaleda) will succeed with the use of either the court or state power, he claimed. BNP vice-chairman Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said the government wants to hold the election with Khaleda in prison as it considers her to be main force of the party. Khaleda Zia is the main force of BNP. The government intentionally wants to hold the election with her in prison, he added. He alleged that during the term of the Fakhruddin-Moinuddin-led caretaker government, both Khaleda and Hasina were implicated in nine cases each, almost at the same time and on the same grounds. But the cases against the BNP chief remain pending, even though those against the Awami League president were quashed. The former minister questioned the independence of the judiciary, saying that the people have seen the situation through the Chief Justices resignation. The veteran leader admitted that the party is likely to fall in trouble and the workers will be demoralised if Khaleda is sent to prison. Her presence is needed to raise the tempo before the polls, he added. Hafizuddin Ahmed, however, expressed belief that the government cannot really do it as there will be a mass upsurge if such an action is taken. Asked whether they fear that there is a move to keep Khaleda away from the next polls, her counsel, Sanaullah Miah, said this is not merely a fear. It is a fact that the government wants to keep her away from the election, he asserted. There is an apprehension that a deep-rooted conspiracy is being hatched to prevent Khaleda Zia from taking part in the elections. Thats why court dates have been given every week for the last two years, he said. He alleged that the dates are given frequently upon the insistence of the government. The lawyer added that they will fight the cases legally. Asked when the hearing on Khaledas self-defence statement would end, Sanaullah Miah said it was tough for him to assume a date, but it would take time. BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said Khaleda Zia has alleged in her self-defence statement that the filing of cases are part of the conspiracy to keep her away from the next elections. The former minister also quoted Khaleda in saying that the cases were filed against her intentionally. Khaleda on Thursday presented her self-defence statement in the makeshift court of special judge-5 at Bakshibazar for the fifth day. The court asked her to appear again on November 23 to complete her self-defence statements in the two graft cases. The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against four persons, including Khaleda Zia, in Tejgaon police station on August 8, 2010, for carrying out alleged illegal transactions of Tk. 1.15 crore in the name of the Zia Charitable Trust. The ACC filed another case against six persons, including Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman, in Ramna police station on July 3, 2008, for allegedly misappropriating Tk. 2.10 crore.