Judiciary not functioning fairly: Khaleda

 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’s president 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.

Source: UNB