Dhaka, Dec 8 – The BNP on Friday accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of providing ‘false and fabricated’ information about party chairperson Khaleda Zia and her family members’ assets in Saudi Arabia and threatened to take a legal step against her if she does not apologise for it.“Stop spreading such kind of false and fabricated information against Khaleda Zia. Seek apology for publicising such defamatory and false information. Otherwise, we will be compelled to take a legal step against you,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while briefing reporters at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
He firmly said that the information on properties in Saudi Arabia, provided by the prime minister who held her current position by means of immoral acts and usurpation, are imaginary, downright lies, fabricated and baseless.
The BNP leader alleged that the premier is providing such false and fabricated information aiming at tarnishing the image of Khaleda and her family members and undermine them to the people.
The BNP’s formal reaction a day after the Prime Minister accused the former premier of laundering huge amount of money to Saudi Arabia.
The premier at a press conference at her official residence Ganabhaban also voiced her discontent as the mainstream local media did not run any report on Khaleda Zia’s ‘assets in Saudi Arabia’.
According to some media reports based on the information by Global Intelligence Network’ and ‘Canadian TV channel The National, anti-corruption investigation in Saudi Arabia revealed that Khaleda and her family members have assets in that country.
Mirza Alamgir said the reports on the imaginary US$12 billion worth of assets published by a few unknown online media outlets quoting a Canadian television channel, are baseless. He said no responsible media organisation in the country published such reports.
“That’s why the prime minister attacked and mocked the local media. Such remarks by her are not only indecent but also illegal and punishable offence,” he observed.
The BNP secretary general accused the ruling party men of indulging corruption in the name of development and mega projects and said the countrymen are aware of the corruption committed by the prime minister’s men.
“The reports of corruption committed by her ministers, leaders and close ones are being published in foreign media. The people are noting the plundering of billions of dollars from each international tenders including Padma bridge project, Rooppur Atomic Power Plant, Paira Port, Expressway, Elevated Expressway, VOIP, Satellite Station and construction of roads and bridges”, he claimed.
He urged the Prime Minister to withdraw her comments immediately and not to throw rubbish to another home sitting in a glass room.
Mirza Alamgir said the premier’s effort to forcibly publish the false and fabricated and false allegation against Khaleda Zia and her family member of indulging in corruption and assets proved her political vengeance and bankruptcy.
Such indecent statement of the prime minister not only pollutes the politics but it will create a wrong perception to the new generation about the politicians of the country.
Replying to a question, he said the BNP strongly condemns US president Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
He demanded the US president to revoke the decision and accept the justified demands of Palestinians.
BNP leaders—Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokan, among others, were present at the press conference. – Staff Reporter
