Dhaka, Dec 20 – Awami League on Wednesday claimed that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia sent the legal notice to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina only to divert people’s attention to a different direction from her corruption.
Speaking at a press conference at Awami League president’s Dhanmondi office, its publicity and publication secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud also warned that the party will take legal action against the BNP chief if she does not withdraw the legal notice.“The BNP chairperson’s legal notice is an eyewash to hush up the corruption committed by her and her sons. She has gone mad as she knows the verdict in the corruption cases against her can be delivered any day,” he said.
The Awami League leader further said, “We’ll take legal action through court if she (Khaleda) doesn’t withdraw her notice.”
Earlier in the day, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference said their chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday sent a legal notice to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking an apology from her for making ‘malicious and defamatory’ remarks about her reported assets abroad.
In the notice, he said, Khaleda demanded that the Prime Minister apologise unconditionally and publish it in the media by 30 days or she has to face a defamation suit for ‘damaging’ her reputation and image.
On December 7, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference voiced her discontent as the mainstream 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.
Mahmud said there has been an allegation that Khaleda Zia and her family members stashed $1200 crore in 12 countries. “Khaleda Zia apparently admitted that she and her family members are corrupt by whitening black money paying fine. She’s now trying to hush up it.”
He also urged the BNP chairperson to apologise to people for indulging in corruption and syphoning off money abroad.
The Awami League leader called upon the Anti-Corruption Commission to launch a fresh investigation against Khaleda and her family.
Speaking at the press conference, Awami League Presidium Member Matia Chowdhury said Awami League did not bring any baseless allegation against Khaleda about her corruption. “She must withdraw her notice offering an apology. Or else, we’ll take legal action against her.”
She also questioned as to how Khaleda’s eldest son Tarique Rahman has been living a lavish life in the UK. – UNB
