It's being used as a political tool

A reactionary quarter including BNP is creating confusion and instability centring the conviction and sentence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh yesterday.

“The rule of law has been established through the court verdict… Now, she [Khaleda] will move an appeal through a legal procedure and the court will consider whether she would be granted bail…,” he said.

Taposh, member secretary of Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad, was speaking at a press conference organised by the pro-Awami League lawyers' body in the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium.

He said they are noting that a quarter is using the verdict [on Khaleda] as a political tool and trying to create indiscipline in the country.

The quarter is engaged in hatching a conspiracy to create a chaotic situation like that of 2013, 2014 and 2015. “We strongly condemn it,” he said.

Taposh, also an AL lawmaker, said, the BNP chairperson has been “given all division facilities in jail”, whatever she deserves, as a former prime minister. There is no scope for creating confusion and hatching conspiracies over this issue, he added.

Ainjibi Parishad leader and former law minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said Khaleda Zia can contest the next parliamentary elections if the High Court suspends her conviction and sentence.

If her conviction and sentence are upheld in the appeal, she would be disqualified to contest the polls, he added.

Ainjibi Parishad Convener Yusuf Hossain Humayun said the verdict on Khaleda is being misinterpreted.

Former AL ministers Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru, MP, Advocate Sahara Khatun, MP, and Nurul Islam Sujon, MP; Bangladesh Bar Council Vice Chairman Advocate Abdul Baset Majumder; AL Law Secretary SM Rezaul Karim; and SCBA Vice President Md Ozi Ullah also spoke.