BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed yesterday said the cabinet's decision to cancel the lease of Khaleda Zia's cantonment residence is quite illegal and violation of basic rights of an individual.
He also asked the government to have a court order to cancel the allotment as the cabinet has no authority to cancel the lease without having any order from the court.
“The cabinet's decision to cancel the lease is completely illegal and violation of basic rights of an individual as it has no authority to cancel the deed signed between an individual and the state that awarded the right to the land to Khaleda,” said Moudud at a press briefing at his office.
"The government will have to have order from the court of justice if it wants to cancel the deed," the BNP senior leader said, adding, “ The cabinet's decision was not enough to cancel the deed.”
Moudud said the deed was signed between the president of the country and Khaleda Zia on July 8, 1981 and the military estates officer of Dhaka cantonment had signed it on behalf of the president.
“There were six mandatory conditions to continue the lease and none of them were violated till date,” he observed.
Moudud also said there were no restrictions on political activity, business or any other points that could lead to termination of the deed.
Besides, rents and other taxes for the house have been paid up- to-date and no other conditions have been violated," he added.
Moudud claimed that the government cancels the allotment to take personal revenge and to divert public attention from BDR carnage and BCL violence across the country.
"This sensitive issue would only trigger unrest and conflicts in the political arena. No one in the country, even many senior AL leaders have told me that they do not agree with the decision," he claimed.
Replying a query the BNP lawmaker said the house was given to Khaleda under a unanimous decision of the then parliament which said the house was given to the family of Ziaur Rahman "in recognition of the invaluable services rendered by the late president" who left no property for his family.
The then cabinet also approved it, he added.