Dhaka, DEC 03 – Jatiya Oikya Front Convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Tuesday said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is eligible to get bail from the apex court in the corruption cases she was convicted.I would like to say she of course has the scope to obtain bail (from the Appellate Division)…what else should I say clearly about it,” he said.
Dr Kamal, also a legal expert, came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting of Oikyafront’s steering committee at his Motijheel chamber.
He said their meeting demanded Khaleda’s release on humanitarian grounds. “In our written statement, we’ve clearly said she’s eligible to get bail for humanitarian reasons.”
Earlier, reading out a written statement, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, the meeting discussed the health condition of Khaleda and expressed concern. “We know Khaleda has been kept in jail for 664 days with a motive.”
Stating that the BNP chief has been convicted in ‘motivated’ cases, he said considering her latest health condition, they demanded her immediate release. “It’s our meeting’s main demand. We think it’s a human demand and she deserves to get bail.”
The alliance also warned the government that it will be held responsible for the emerging situation in the country if Khaleda is not given bail, and if she is subjected to injustice.
On November 28, the Appellate Division deferred the hearing on Khaleda’s bail petition in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case till December 5.
The court also asked the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to place Khaleda’s health reports before it by December 5.
Asked about the alliance leaders’ plan to meet Khaleda, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abur Rob said the Home Minister agreed in principle to allow them to meet the BNP chief and asked the IG Prison to maintain official formalities in this regard as they met him at the Secretariat.
He, however, said the IG Prison is not responding to their application to take steps for the meeting with Khaleda. “This means they’re unwilling to give us any scope to meet Khaleda Zia.”
Replying to a question, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said Oikyafront leaders will decide whether they should take any action programme demanding Khaleda’s release assessing the Supreme Court’s decision on December 5.- UNB
