‘Can’t recall if Khaleda stated that’

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said he does not know whether BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has given any undertaking, in the application for her release order, that she will abstain from politics.

"I cannot remember at this moment whether such an undertaking was stated in the application. I suppose there was not any such clause, but I will have to check it again," said the minister.

"However, I came to know from media reports that her [Khaleda Zia] brother Shamim Iskander asked BNP leaders not to involve her in any of the party's political programmes. We all know it," he said.

He was addressing reporters after attending as chief guest at the inauguration of the 11th orientation course for the promoted additional district and sessions judges at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in Dhaka.

A reporter asked the question to the minister, mentioning that a ruling party lawmaker has told parliament that Khaleda has given the undertaking to abstain from politics.

Replying to another question about the vacancy of four out of five judge posts of Orthorin Adalats (money-loan courts) in Dhaka, the minister said a process is underway to appoint judges to the vacant posts.