Cases shifted to keep Khaleda from politics: BNP
Cases shifted to keep Khaleda from politics: BNP
The government has deliberately shifted the trial of two graft cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to a makeshift court to keep her from politics, the party alleged today.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the government to let the trial be held in the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, which had been dealing with the cases so far.
The BNP leader came up with the request a day after the government shifted the trial of Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases against Khaleda to the makeshift court in the capital's Bakshi Bazar.
A release issued by the Law Ministry yesterday said the government has taken the decision in exercise of its power under section 9 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, considering the huge backlog of cases and security risk over crowd during court hours.
While addressing a press briefing at BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan in the capital, Fakhrul also criticised the government for not allowing his party to hold a public rally in Narayanganj on May 14.
“The government wants to establish an one-party rule in the country and that’s why it has refused BNP for the rally,” Fakhrul said.
District BNP yesterday submitted an application to the Narayanganj City Corporation seeking its permission for holding a rally at a convenient venue in the city but the NCC turned down the plea citing deterioration of law and order in the district, the party sources said.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was likely to address the rally on that day.
The BNP spokesperson also assailed the government for barring BNP Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka from going abroad yesterday.
Khoka, who was also attended the briefing, claimed that Nazrul had informed the home ministry that his life was under threat.
Instead of initiating any security measures, the home minister had asked him to seek help from local lawmaker Shamim Oslam, he added.
About the dismissal of three officials of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Khoka said the terminations were not enough to ensure fair trial of the killings.
Rab’s high-ups who were active behind the killing must be brought to book, he added.