The government has been successful carrying out one political strategy after the other except when it came to the matter of arresting BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Even 38 days after the court issued an arrest warrant, the police have not taken any steps to arrest her and bring her to court. Senior officials in the administration said that the government is hesitant and apprehensive about such action.
The matter is shrouded in mystery as the warrant issued on 28 February did not reach the police station even by April 2, 38 days since being issued. The court employees say the warrant has been sent to the police station. Deputy commissioner (Gulshan) of police Khandakar Lutful Kabir told Prothom Alo on Thursday that the warrant hadn’t reached them.
And now the next date for Khaleda Zia’s court appearance has come around. Her adviser and senior lawyer Khandakar Mahbub Hossain on Thursday told journalists, if she is given adequate security, Khaleda will appear in court on April 5. It is the government’s responsibility to provide her with adequate security.
Eminent lawyer Rafiq-ul Huq told Prothom Alo, “The less said about the matter the better. If the warrant was against me or any common citizen, then it would be sent speedily from the court to the police station.”
The government leaders want the matter to be resolved in court. They do not want to take the risk of arresting her. There has been talk of picking her up from her office, but in reality that did not happen.
In the meantime, BNP leaders have adopted a softer stance. With the attention moving away from the movement to the city corporation election, public life is almost back to normal. The people are getting some sense of relief.
A presidium member of Awami League and senior minister, on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo, Khaleda Zia must go to jail. However, it it to be seen whether that will take place before the court sentences her in the case or after. He said, the government is still in favour of not picking her up from her office. The government is not bothered whether the court gives her bail or jail.
Law ministry sources said, the warrant is the government’s responsibility. If Khaleda Zia appears in court, the matter will be resolved. But if she doesn’t, then the court will ask the police why the warrant is not being implemented.
The prime minister, other ministers and leaders of ruling Awami League have repeatedly spoken of arresting Khaleda Zia, but the failure to do so has given rise to speculations within political circles. The leaders feel that if she is arrested, nothing nothing drastic will take place. However, this may give her political plus points at home and abroad. The foreign quarters may become more vocal than they are now.
The example being used in this regard is the flurry of activity by 16 diplomats before Khaleda Zia’s court appearance date. Many feel she has not been arrested because of the diplomats’ efforts. However, the government said the warrant hasn’t reached the police as yet.
The prime minister’s information advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury told Prothom Alo, “This is not the government’s weakness. It is the government’s responsibility to implement the court order.” He said, “She has been given some space to think and consider the situation.”
Sources said that the matter is no longer with the court. The matter is now political.
The judge issued the warrant as Khaleda Zia was not appearing in court. The government had thought she would appear in court in fear of jail or out of respect towards the court.
Khaleda Zia’s advisor Osman Farooq, presently abroad, told Prothom Alo that she has no dearth of respect for the law and the court. But the matter is political now. It has nothing to do with the law or the court. He said, the matter can be solved politically through dialogue.
A Dhaka court issued a warrant of arrest against Khaleda Zia on 14 February in the Zia Orphanage Trust and the Zia Charitable Trust case.
After the case was filed on 3 July 2008, six years have passed with the date being postponed innumerable times. Finally the arrest warrant was issued, creating a stir.
Several Awami League leaders have said that the matter is sensitive and is being discussed politically. Her arrest will be decided at a high level of government.
Khaleda Zia’s advisor lawyer Khandakar Mahbub yesterday told journalists at his office, “She is respectful towards the law and is willing to go to court, but cannot do so for security reasons. Her convoy of cars was attacked the last time she went to court on 24 December.”
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has been in her Gulshan office for around three months now. She has not left the office during this period, not even to appear at the court hearing.
Source: Prothom-Alo
