KHALEDA COMMENT OVER
NUMBER of MARTYRS
Court orders probe into sedition charge
A Dhaka court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to conduct an investigation into a sedition charge filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her comments on the count of 1971 martyrs. The court also asked the officer-in-charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station to take approval from the home ministry before conducting investigation into the sedition charge as the case was filed against Khaleda Zia under section 123 of the penal code. An approval from the home ministry is needed for a case to be filed under that particular section of the penal code. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Atiqur Rahman gave the order after a hearing on the case filed by Moshiur Malik, founding president of Bangabandhu Foundation, against Khaleda Zia for making derogatory remark about 1971 martyrs. The court also asked the authorities concerned to take legal action, if any, against her in accordance with the law after conducting investigation into the case. At a discussion on Dec 21, Khaleda Zia expressed doubts over the governments claim that three million people died during the 1971 Liberation War. She also said Bangabandhu wanted to become the prime minister of undivided Pakistan rather than lead the country to independence. Her comments drew widespread flak among pro-liberation forces in the country. Many slammed her as an agent of Pakistan and demanded that she leaves Bangladesh.
