BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday alleged that there are two types of trial now in the country as judges have been appointed on political consideration.
“Now the judiciary is not independent. The Chief Justice has said they are controlled. Lower courts have to obey government’s orders. There’re now two types of trial as party men have been made judges,” she said.
In her brief address at an iftar party, the BNP chief further said, “Now Awami League men after committing crimes don’t get punished and they get bail easily, while BNP men are getting punished and oppressed for no crime. They don’t get bail from courts.”
She called upon people to get united to save the country from the misrule and repressive acts of the Awami League-led government.
National People’s Party (NPP)led by Advocate Fariduzzaman Farhad arranged the iftar at a city hotel.
Terming the current government an illegal one, Khaleda said it has been in power only depending on police. “Police officials say they have kept this regime in power. It seems that the country is now ruled by police. Police now have got a freehand, and they’re doing what ever they wish.”
She alleged that members of police are now indulging in killings, enforced disappearances and extortion and abuse of power as the government is letting them loose only to cling to power.
Khaleda alleged that many leaders and activists of the 20-party are either in jail or on the run as they were implicated in ‘false’ cases.
She said police members confessed that they had set fire to vehicles and hurled petrol bombs to resist the fall of the government by foiling the opposition’s movement.
Mentioning that the judges could have ensured justice had the judiciary been neutral, the former Prime Minister regretted that the judiciary cannot work independently due to the government’s interference.
Khaleda came down hard on the government for what she said its widespread corruption. “Rotten wheat is imported from Brazil. The wheat which is not fit for consumption even by cattle was imported for human consumption to harm them. This is how they’re siphoning off crores of taka abroad. The ruling party men are involved in money laundering, but they are not being brought to justice.”
“In this holy month of Ramada, we pray to Allah so that He ensures tough punishment for them (AL men). They must face dire consequences,” she added.
Senior leaders of the BNP-led 20-prty alliance, including that of BNP and NPP, were present at the meeting.
Government obstructs Fakhrul’s release
Meanwhile, BNP on Tuesday alleged that the government is creating administrative obstacles to the release of its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Addressing a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon urged the government to immediately remove the barriers to expedite Fakhrul’s release.
“Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has obtained bails from the High Court in all the cases filed against him. Now administrative obstacles are being created to his release… He’s not being released from jail for lack of government’s goodwill.” he said.
On June 18, the High Court granted bail to Fakhrul in three separate criminal cases filed in connection with violence during the BNP-led alliance’s anti-government movement.
The government on June 21 filed three petitions with the SC seeking stay on the HC orders.
On Monday, the Supreme Court fixed June 25 for hearing the government petitions.
The BNP leader said their party expects that the government will take steps so that Fakhrul and other BNP leaders and activists can walk out of jails without facing any administrative obstruction.
Ripon, BNP’s international affairs secretary, urged the Prime Minister to change her government’s vindictive attitude towards the release of the opposition leaders on bail.
Ripon said Fakhrul has been in jail with various critical diseases for nearly five and a half months. “He is now in a very bad condition as he has lost 16 kg weight.”
He said the opposition leaders are going to court for bails showing respect to laws, but the government is harassing and oppressing them using the law and lower courts.
The BNP leader urged the government to make the democratic system effective in the country through cooperation and understanding with the opposition.
BNP plans movement after Eid
Assuring of a post-Eid peaceful movement, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday warned that they will come up with a counter reply if the government tries to block their protest programme.
Addressing an Iftar party, hosted by Dhaka City BNP she also said a fresh convening committee of her party’s Dhaka City unit will be declared very soon in a bid to intensify the movement.
“BNP doesn’t believe in torch-and-burn politics. Awami League men do this. Our movement after Eid will be peaceful and democratic one to force the government to hold a fresh election,” the BNP chief said.
She further said, “We’ve heard Awami League will take to the streets to counter us. I want to clearly say we’ll give a counter reply if you (govt) try to create obstacles to our movement with police and armed ruling party cadres. The consequence will also be not good.”
Khaleda, also a former Prime Minister, claimed the country’s people are now united to oust the current regime.
Assuring of creating a new and positive trend in the country’s politics in the days to come, she urged all political parties to get united under a single platform against this administration. “You (parties) can’t keep mum in this sordid state of the country. It’s the right time to register protest and put up a resistance.”
The BNP chief alleged that the government is not willing to resolve the ongoing political crisis through talks. “Awami League wants to cling to power till the everlasting day. They may be able to prolong their power for some time, but must go. They’ll be ousted in such a way people won’t feel sorry for them, rather will thank Allah.”
Khaleda was also critical of the Election Commission saying it has become the government’s puppet institution. “No fair election is possible without the reconstitution of the commission.”
Senior leaders of BNP and its alliance partners, civil society members and leaders of pro-BNP professional bodies joined the Iftar party.
Khaleda calls for all –party unity
Earlier on Tuesday, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on urged all to get united to save the country from the grasp of the scum of the world and corrupt people.
“There’s no good man with this regime. Only the scum of the world and corrupt people are with it. I urge all to get united to save the country and its people from their hands,” she said.
Khaleda, also a former Prime Minister, made the call while addressing an Iftar party arranged by Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) at Samurai Convention Centre in the city’s Panthapath area.
She alleged that the country’s people are passing through a critical time due to misrule and repression by the current government.
The BNP chief alleged the government has indulged in terrorism, killings, enforced disappearances and widespread corruption and looting instead of doing welfare of people.
“Many people have killed and made disappeared since Awami League has assumed office. People irrespective of their religion, colour and opinion have become victims to the government’s repressive acts,” she claimed.
Khaleda said the rule of law, democracy, peace and development all theses things are now absent in the country. “We have no time now to think who’s big, who’s small, who’s rightist, who’s leftist, who’s Hindu, who Muslim and who is Christian. We all who love the country to get united take to the streets to restore, peace and democracy in the country.”
BDB president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, noted lawyer Barrister Rafiqul Haq, BNP standing committee members RA Gani and MK Anwar, BDB secretary general Major (retd) Abdul Mannan and Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna were, among others, present.
Source: Weekly Holiday
