Dhaka – A Dhaka court on Thursday issued a warrant for the arrest of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a case filed against her for celebrating ‘fake’ birthday on National Mourning Day on August 15.Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mazharul Islam passed the order, UNB news agency reported.
The court also ordered the officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station to submit a report in this regard by March 2 next. Earlier on August 30, a court summoned Khaleda Zia taking cognizance of the case. The court also asked the BNP chairperson to appear in person before it on October 17.Former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Gazi Zahirul Islam filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court accusing Khaleda of provoking people by celebrating her false birthday on August 15. The case was filed under sections 198 and 469 of the Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC).According to section 198, “Whoever corruptly uses or attempts to use any such certificate as a true certificate, knowing the same to be false in any material point, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave false evidence,” while Section 469 says, “Whoever commits forgery, intending that the document forged shall harm the reputation of any party, or knowing that it is likely to be used for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.” In his complaint, Jahirul Islam said Khaleda’s date of birth was mentioned as August 15, 1946 in her latest passport while August 9, 1944 in her marriage registration and September 5, 1946, in her (unsuccessful) SSC mark sheet.The plaintiff also said the 15th August was declared National Mourning Day in 1996 and Khaleda has started celebrating her birth day on this day by cutting cakes since then which is ridiculous.Just to undermine Bangabandhu and hurt his family she selected this date for celebrating her fake birthday which is provocative, defamatory, disturbing and against the law of the land.
BNP on Thursday alleged that the warrant for the arrest of its chairperson Khaleda Zia has been issued at the behest of the government to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the attacks on minorities in Gaibandha and Brahmanbaria.
In a statement, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “The issuance of the arrest warrant in a false case was not only an absurd matter, but also part of the government’s evil design. It’s another big vindictive move by the regime.”
He further said, “The warrant for the arrest of our chairperson in a conspiratorial case has also been issued to hush up people’s hatred against the ruling party men for their involvement in Gobindaganj and Nasirnagar attacks on minorities and their houses and worship places, and to divert their attention to a different direction. “It’s a foul tactic of the regime.”
A court here on Thursday issued a warrant for the arrest of Khaleda in a case filed against her for celebrating ‘fake’ birthday on National Mourning Day on August 15.
Former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Gazi Zahirul Islam filed the case on August 30 last with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court accusing Khaleda of provoking people by celebrating her false birthday on August 15.
Fakhrul said the country’s people have even no right to celebrate their any personal event as they do not have democratic rights and the right to expression. “It seems that Awami League’s unilateral supremacy has been established in the country.”
Having failed to implement its blueprint to eliminate the nationalist forces, he said the government has continued filing ‘false’ cases against their leader Khaleda Zia.
The BNP secretary general warned that the government will not be able to prevent Khaleda from her movement for restoration of people’s rights by issuing such a warrant for her arrest.
He demanded that the arrest warrant be revoked, while the ‘politically’ motivated case withdrawn.
Meanwhile, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a discussion programme said the arrest warrant exposed the government’s political vengeance.
National Awami Party (NAP) organised the programme at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), marking 40th death anniversary of great leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.
Rizvi strongly protested and condemned the move, and demanded that the case be withdrawn immediately.
