As a delegation of opposition MPs sought his intervention in freeing their leader Khaleda Zia from her apparent confinement, President Abdul Hamid on Friday assured them of taking every possible step in this regard in line with the constitution.
“The President told the opposition MPs to convey their messages to the government authorities concerned and he’ll do everything possible in light with the constitution,” said President’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim.
Briefing reporters at Bangabhaban after a meeting between Abdul Hamid and the eight-member delegation of opposition MPs, Karim also said the MPs appraised the President of the current state of Khaleda.
He said the delegation told the President that they are not still clear whether the opposition leader is under confinement, arrest or house arrest. “They also requested the President for taking steps to make it clear.”
The MPs also alleged that Khaleda Zia is not being allowed to come out of her residence and BNP leaders are also not being allowed to meet her.
“The President gave the MPs a patient hearing and told them that he wants peace and normalcy to prevail in the country,” the Press secretary added.
Earlier, the delegation, led by opposition chief whip Joynal Abedin Farroque, sat in the meeting with the president around 3:57pm that continued until 4:45pm.
The other delegation members are Ashrafuddin Nizan, Nazimuddin Ahmed, Harunur Rashid, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, Rehana Akhter Ranu, Syeda Ashifa Ashrafi Papia and Rasheda Begum Hira.
Talking to reporters in front of the main gate of the Bangabhaban about the meeting, Farroque said they appealed to the President for taking measures to make it clear before the nation whether Khaleda is under arrest, confinement or house arrest.
He said Abdul Hamid assured them of discussing the matter with the government authorities concerned.
“We hope the President will ask the government to clear the current status of the opposition leader and he’ll take steps so that she can go to her office and opposition leaders can meet her,” the opposition chief whip said.
Asked whether they will go to meet the opposition leader, he said they will surely try to meet her. “But we’ll inform you later when we’ll go to her residence.”
Earlier on Thursday morning, the eight-member delegation of BNP MPs met Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at her office and sought her intervention in freeing Khaleda from her reported confinement.
The BNP Mps, led by opposition chief whip Joynul Abedin Farroque, met the Speaker at her office on Thursday morning and submitted a memorandum to her to this end.
Farroque told UNB that they also submitted the same memorandum to the President during their today’s meeting.
As the government deployed huge law enforcers around Khaleda’s residence since Saturday last and did not allow her to come out of it to join the abortive 18-party’s March to Democracy programme, BNP has been claiming that the government has kept her confined to her residence, a claim turned down by the government.
Source: UNB Connect
