The BNP-led 20-party opposition alliance yesterday said that any attempt to arrest party chairperson Khaleda Zia would accelerate the downfall of the government.
“Having failed to resist the ongoing mass movement, the government is trying to pour Deshnetri (leader of the country) Khaleda Zia in prison as part of its last resort to protect its illegal power,” said BNP joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed.
In a statement issued yesterday from an undisclosed location, he expressed his concern accusing the government of completing all arrangements to arrest Khaleda Zia in a bid to establish one-party state system.The statement was issued hours after a Dhaka court issued arrest warrants against Khaleda and two others for skipping court hearing in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.
The BNP leader alleged the government turned the judiciary into a hammer to resist the opposition and different views by politicising and interfering in it after enacting impeachment law.
“As part of it, the arrest warrants was issued against Khaleda Zia in false and febricated cases,” he said.
Salahudidn Ahmed said the people and international quarters are aware that Khaleda Zia was kept in an undeclared confinement where the government stopped food supply for over two weeks. Besides, communications systems including telephone, fax, cable network and Internet at Khaleda’s office are still remained disconnected, he said.
He condemned and protested the government move to harass Khaleda Zia in false cases even after her lawyers informed the court the reasons not to appear before it.
The BNP leader said the ongoing movement cannot be stopped by creating fear of filing false cases and arrest. He claimed that several hundred opposition leaders and activists were killed and over 20 thousand were arrested during the current movement.
He said the movement would continue until the government accepts the 20-party demand for an inclusive poll under a non-partisan government.
Meanwhile, seniors BNP leaders defend the statements of Khaleda’s lawyers including her adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Sanaullah Miah, who termed the issuance of warrant of arrest against Khaleda Zia illegal.
“Khaleda Zia could not go to court on security reason as blockade and hartal programe are going on. She did not get justice,” a senior leader of the BNP said.
He said there is a question about the issuance of arrest of warrant against Khaleda Zia even after the reason not to appear before court was explained.
BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman termed the issuance of warrant of arrest as a matter of court. he was replying to a question whether Khaleda would be arrested there was a rumor that she would be taken into custody.
Responding to another question if Khaleda was arrested what BNP would do, he said in such a case Khaleda and BNP would fight the legal battle.
Asked if in case of she is arrested would functioning of the BNP be affected, he said the BNP is a big party and shall definitely be able to manage it in accordance with the party constitution.
Another standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed preferred not to make any comment over the court order. “I don’t like to pass any comment in this regard,” he said.
Standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, who is also staying at the Gulshan office of Bnp said their lawyers would make comments on the legal issues and statement of party joint secretary Salahuddin Ahmed would be treated as stance of the BNP and 20-party alliance. – Staff Reporter
