Government against Khaleda bail, BNP divided over ways

The government is totally reluctant to set former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia free on bail when the main opposition party is sharply divided regarding whether it should free her through movement or negotiations.

A group of BNP leaders including its MPs are seeking government’s help to free Khaleda on bail, the party secretary general made it clear  that BNP ‘does not want any compassion from the government on the issue as getting bail is her legal right.’

The government and ruling Awami League still hold the rigid stand not to allow Khaleda Zia to be free on bail.

BNP thinks that the government robbed the legal rights of former prime minister Khaleda Zia to gel bail.

A day after prime minister and AL president Sheikh Hasina dismissed the possibility of political compromise with regard to setting   Khaleda free on bail, Khaleda’s lawyer  Zainul Abedin at a press conference told reporters that Khaleda was denied bail time and again due to  ‘strong opposition from the government’.

AL general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said at a news conference at his secretariat office that he saw no sign of any movement anywhere as BNP had threatened to launch several times to free Khaleda Zia.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said addressing a human chain in front of the National Press Club, ‘BNP does not want the government to set Khaleda Zia free on bail on compassionate grounds as getting bail is her legal right’.

He said that BNP will free Khaleda Zia through  movement if she was denied bail again.

On Wednesday, following a request of BNP MP  M Harunur Rashid, Obaidul Quader raised Khaleda’s bail issue with prime minister Sheikh Hasina at an emergency meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban. And Hasina reminded Quader that as Khaleda’s bail depended on the court there was no scope for political compromise on the matter, meeting sources said.

Khaleda has been in jail since February 8, 2018 when she was convicted by a Dhaka special court in two cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission that BNP terms false and fabricated.

Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Zainul Abedin said that the government was deliberately obstructing Khaleda Zia   to go to abroad for treatment.

The government filed a total of 37 cases against Khaleda Zia while she got bails in 35 cases.

He said that another bail application would be filed after October 13.

He requested the Attorney General not to oppose granting bail to Khaleda Zia again.

Besides, the ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said that such press conference on a sub-judice matter was not lawful.

He said that the commission would continue its legal fight without considering the identity or social status of accused.

Besides, attorney general Mahbubey Alam told reporters that BNP as well as Khaleda Zia’s lawyers are doing politics over Khaleda Zia’s bill issue.

He said that opposing Khaleda Zia’s bail application was his professional duty as she was convicted accused.

On Wednesday, BNP MP M Harunur Rashid met and requested 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.

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.’

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