Graft case against Khaleda
BNP holds urgent meeting today
UNB
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has convened an urgent meeting of her partys standing committee today as a court here fixed date for pronouncing verdict in a graft case filed against her, reports UNB. The meeting of the BNP policy-making body is scheduled to begin around 8:30pm at the BNP chairpersons Gulshan office, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told UNB on Friday.
He said the meeting will discuss the countrys overall political situation and latest developments. A BNP standing committee member wishing anonymity said they will mainly discuss the issues relating to the probable court verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and work out the partys next course of action.
He said they will elaborately discuss the possible measures to face any evolving political situation if their chairperson is unlawfully convicted.
Itll be a very crucial meeting, and we may take ta decision to launch a decisive movement if our chairperson is deprived of justice, the BNP leader said.
Meanwhile, BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy yesterday warned that the consequence will be very bad if the court gives any negative verdict on the Zia Charitable graft case filed against their chairperson Khaleda Zia.
I think the foundation stone for the fall of the government will get set up if any negative verdict is pronounced by the court at the behest of it (govt) on February 8, he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said a disastrous situation may be created in the country if Khaleda is convicted, no matter whether BNP announces any formal action programme or not.
Nagorik Odhikar Andolon, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the third death anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, said people will come up with a befitting reply if the government tries to take political revenge on Khaleda using the court.
He alleged that Awami League is making various plots to keep their party away from the next polls as the ruling party has no ability to contest against BNP.
About the schedule for the presidential election, he said though the Presidents post is very important, people have no interest in the polls as the President has no power to play any role during the countrys crisis.
On Thursday, the Special Court-5 in Dhaka fixed February 8 to deliver verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda and five others.
On August 8, 2011, the commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
Hours after the court fixed date for delivering verdict, BNP senior leaders warned that their party will take to the streets with strong agitation programmes if Khaleda is illegitimately convicted. Khaleda will be disqualified for the next general election if she is convicted in the case.
On Thursday, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir feared that the verdicts in graft case will be pronounced as per the Prime Ministers desire.
