BNP telling lies ahead of Feb 8 verdict

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday accused BNP leaders of lying ahead of the February 8 verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda Zia.

He urged the leaders to come up with evidence regarding their allegation that they were being threatened and said that actions would be taken if the allegation was found to be true.  

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, made the statement while talking to reporters in Comilla. He went there to visit a flyover.  

About the allegations that the BNP men were being arrested and threatened, Quader said, “BNP men are lying… they have no work but to lie… some of them are pathological liars.”

He claimed that the BNP's registration as a political party would be revoked if it did not take part in the upcoming general election.

"They are bound to participate in the election.”

Like in the other democratic countries, a free, fair and neutral election would be held in Bangladesh, Quader said, adding that the size of the polls-time cabinet would be smaller and that government would conduct only routine work.

"And the home ministry will work under the guidelines of the Election Commission during the polls," he added.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday alleged that Khaleda was dreaming about a “ghost government” for the next national polls.

“The demands Khaleda Zia made are out of the constitution. She could not provide a perfect roadmap for the national election,” he added.

The BNP would never be able to come to power and people rejected Khaleda's “six conditions” for the next polls, Inu, also the president of JSD, said in a public meeting at Shekhahar High School ground in Kahaloo upazila in Bogra.

He said the BNP was plotting to foil the national elections.

He also said there was no relation between the national election and the corruption case against Khaleda. Inu said they would again nominate Rezaul Karim Tansen to run for MP from the Bogra-4 constituency.

Meanwhile, AL Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday said Khaleda “got caught” in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable trust graft cases.

The AL lawmaker was speaking at a party meeting on Dinajpur Pilot Girls High School ground.