BNP MPs seek PM’s help for Khaleda’s bail

Opposition BNP MPs have requested prime minister Sheikh Hasina to free former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on bail.

They said that Khaleda should be freed on bail on ‘humanitarian grounds as her health turned very critical’.

On Wednesday, BNP MP M Harunur Rashid  met and requested ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader to tell the prime minister to free Khaleda Zia on bail.

He met the road transport and bridges minister at his office.

On Tuesday, BNP MPs Harun, M Aminul Islam and Ukil Abdus Sattar visited Khaleda Zia at  a cabin of  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University  where she is under treatment.

The government declared the cabin as a sub-jail before shifting her there from the Old Dhaka Central Jail.

After leaving the Road Transport and Bridges minister’s office Harun told reporters that he informed Obaidul Quader about  Khaleda Zia’s health condition and requested him to convey the message to the prime minister.

Harun  said that Obaidul Quader assured him that he would discuss the matter with the prime minister.

Later, speaking at a news conference at his Secretariat office, Quader said that Harun came to him to say that Khaleda Zia would go abroad if she was freed on bail.

‘He requested me to inform the prime minister about the issue which I did. But, the court is the sole authority to free Khaleda on bail. The judiciary is independent. We do not have any dispute with Khaleda Zia,’ he added.

Replying to the question that BNP could start a movement to secure Khaleda’s freedom, Quader said, ‘secretly they are requesting the government to free Khaleda Zia on bail but  openly they saying they will  start a movement to free Khaleda Zia.

‘I want them to launch movement but I see no sign of it. No movement is possible sitting abroad. If BNP had the strength it would launch movement immediately after Khaleda Zia was arrested,’ he said.

Later in the evening, Quader raised the issue with Sheikh Hasina in an emergency meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban. But the prime minister, also the Awami League president, reminded the party general secretary that Khaleda’s bail was a matter of the court, meeting sources said.

On Wednesday, BNP MPs M Mosharof Hosen, M Zahidur Rahman, Rumeen Farhana and Gulam Mohammad Siraj visited Khaleda Zia at her hospital cabin and later told reporters they requested the government to free Khaleda Zia on bail on humanitarian ground.

GM Siraj said, ‘I would requested the prime minister to visit Khaleda Zia  to see her condition. Please don’t handle the issue in bureaucratic manner. Please take the steps to free her on bail.’

He said that Khaleda can neither walk nor eat on her own. She needs better treatment at a specialised hospital.

Replying to why you are seeking the prime minister’s help to free Khaleda Zia, when it’s  a matter for the court, he said, ‘It would not be possible to free her without political decision as the courts repeatedly felt embarrassed to hear Khaleda Zia’s bail application.’

Asked for his comments on the development, BNP standing committee member Khandker Mosharraf Hossain told New Age, ‘There was no party decision for our MPs did not do all this. But the party wants her freedom on bail.’  

Dhaka Central Jail’s senior jail superintendent Iqbal Kabir Chowhdhury told New Age that the BNP MPs visited Khaleda Zia in the hospital cabin following the jail code.

On September 20, Khaleda’s sister Selima Islam and her sister-in-law Nasrin Sayeed Iskandar and her for other relatives visited her at her hospital cabin.

On April 1, Khaleda was shifted to the BSMMU cabin from the Old Dhaka Central Jail where she has been since February 8, 2018.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net