It's a conspiracy to split BNP

Law enforcers struggle to cope with a large number of journalists as detained BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia waves on the premises of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, yesterday.Photo: STAR

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said she is being implicated in false and baseless cases as part of a conspiracy to split her party.
The former prime minister also alleged that the case against her was filed (on Sunday) as she had refused to go abroad when effort was being made to oust her and her family from the country.
"Me and my sons are being implicated in false and baseless cases as part of a conspiracy against BNP. Had I agreed to go abroad earlier, no such case would have been filed," Khaleda said in the metropolitan magistrate's court that rejected her bail petition and ordered sending her to jail.
"Filing of false cases should be stopped to allow law to take its own course for the sake of the people and country. It is known to all that efforts are on to imprison me by implicating me in false cases," said Khaleda.
Claiming that her party would definitely go to power once again even if elections take place right now, the BNP chief said this is why a conspiracy is being hatched to split the party. "All of you know what is happening in the name of reforms in different political parties including BNP," she added.
"We have been working for sovereignty of the country. As long as BNP exists, it will resist anyone who threatens our sovereignty, " she said without explaining if there is any such threat.
"I am not influenced by anybody, not even by my sons, as I love my country and its people. A conspiracy was made to oust me along with my family from the country. But still I am here and I will continue to live in the country," Khaleda added.
Speaking for about 15 minutes in the court, the former premier said, "I stood by people of the country in all situations including natural calamities like flood, cyclone and earthquake. But this time I was not allowed to stand by the flood affected people."
She also narrated how BNP came into being, its activities and 'conspiracy' against the party since its founding.
"Ziaur Rahman (late president and founder of BNP) announced the independence of the country, directly participated in the Liberation War, made the country independent and always worked for its development. He introduced the concept of (Bangladeshi) nationalism and the people unitedly rallied round him under the banner of this nationalism. Thus he saved the country from terrorism, disorder and chaos and hastened its development," Khaleda said.
She said conspirators were active even at that time, plotted plans and killed Zia. Many people then thought the party (BNP) would not survive.
Turning to her taking over as party chief she said, she was unwilling to get involved in politics but the people brought her to politics. And she never betrayed them and always fought for their cause. Repeated terms of house arrest could not make her backtrack from her mission.
"Now, neither I nor my sons have any craving for money as we are bestowed with the love of people," Khaleda said.
Pleading the court to exempt her and her son Arafat from the 'false' case, she said, "We will tell the nation that we are innocent and we will remain with them."
Claiming themselves innocent Khaleda also appealed to the people to pray for them.