Khaleda hits out at govt

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In her first appearance at the court since her arrest, former premier Khaleda Zia yesterday demanded withdrawal the state of emergency by June and general elections by October this year.

She came down heavily on the caretaker government, saying it is hatching conspiracy to make the country “dysfunctional” instead of holding the polls, its main task.

The BNP chairperson was hauled before the Special Court-9, set up on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises, on a blue jeep amid tight security.

Clad in a white chiffon saree and black sunglasses, Khaleda looked confident and waved hands to lawyers and journalist as she entered the courtroom at 11:15am.

Eight of the 11 accused were produced before the court of Special Judge Khondker Kamal Uz-Zaman in connection with the Niko graft case.

However, the trial on charge framing against the accused was not held yesterday as the defence appealed for more time to study case documents.

With permission from the judge, Khaleda said: “The situation in the country is very bad. People are starving and committing suicide on failure to feed their children.”

“Children are standing in the queues to get rice instead of studying. People are scrambling for water, gas and electricity, but the government is not paying any heed to these,” she said.

Trade and business has slowed down and the country is losing foreign investments and labour markets abroad, she said. The caretaker government in its 16-month rule has pushed back the country by 30 years, she added.

In her over 15-minute speech, the BNP chairperson said the government assumed power for three months to hold a free and fair election, but it is busy harassing political leaders and other workers instead.

Terming the cases filed against her false, baseless, concocted and malicious to destroy the nationalist forces, she said: “I want justice. I want trial under the existing laws not under the Emergency Power Rules.”

“Apart from me, cases were filed against my family members to harass them. We didn’t commit any wrong but are being implicated on corruption charges… the people will give its answer,” she said.

Khaleda went on to say: “I have been in custody for nine months and also had waged movement for nine years for restoring democracy in the country… I won’t tolerate anymore.”

The former premier demanded “open trial” in the case instead of what she called was “camera trial”. She alleged her counsels are not allowed to meet her for consultation. “I seek justice from the court.”

She also alleged the cases have been filed in a bid to implement the minus-two formula.

“Give up the plus-minus formula. Think about how to hold free and fair elections. The 1/11 has been done to split political parties.”

On the separation of the judiciary, she told the court her government had introduced the separation of the judiciary bill in parliament. Khaleda however did not mention the reality that her government sought time on more than 10 occasions in an apparent effort to delay implementation of the separation of judiciary. The judiciary was finally separated from November last year by this caretaker government. During the rule of the BNP-led government, the image of judiciary was also tainted with a series of controversial appointment and promotion of judges.

She said although the judiciary has become independent, the “judges have no independence as they are doing what they have been asked to do”.

“So where is the independence of the judiciary?” she questioned.

On the anti-corruption drive, the former premier said it is aimed at arresting key political party leaders, but those who actually committed corruption are sitting on the lap of the government.

As the judge told her the trial proceedings are taking place in the special court considering her security and asked her to give case-related speeches, she asked the court who will ensure the country’s security when this has been done for their security.

She also said the government cannot stop the movement of the people though a huge crackdown was conducted yesterday.

Khaleda said the country cannot be run by “agents” who are like parasites. “The government is trying to cling to power backed by different forces.”

She said credible election will not be held without participation of all parties and political leaders. She asked BNP leaders and supporters to remain united at any cost and called upon other parties to work for the election unitedly.

The judge set June 8 for charge framing hearing as the defence prayed for time on the plea that they could not yet scrutinise the FIR and charge sheet in the case.

On another prayer, the court allowed the defence 40 minutes instead of one hour for legal consultation with Khaleda.

Six lawyers including Khandaker Delwar Hossain went to another room for the consultation.

Earlier, Khaleda, former ministers Moudud Ahmed and AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former acting energy secretary Shahidul Islam, One Group Managing Director Gias Uddin Al Mamun, International Travel Corporation Chairman Selim Bhuiyan and former Bapex secretary Shafiur Rahman were brought to the court on the parliament complex amid tight security.

The ACC on December 9 last year filed the case against Khaleda, Moudud, Mosharraf, Shahidul and Kashem with Tejgaon Police Station. Six others were named as defendants after probes found their involvement.

The ACC pressed charges against Khaleda and 10 others in the case on May 5. The case was transferred to the Special Court on May 26.

MOUDUD ON NIKO CASE
Former law minister Moudud Ahmed yesterday questioned the veracity of the Niko graft case saying he had never seen such a “farcical” compensation suit in his long career as a lawyer, reports UNB.

“I’ve seen cases of profit, but not the cases of such losses,” he told the court.

Standing in the dock, Moudud who is a co-accused in the Niko graft case, wondered how the public exchequer suffered a loss of Tk 27,400 crore from a project of Tk 700 crore.

Terming the case imaginary, he said people of the country are to give Tk 30,100 crore in compensation every month for increase in prices of rice and Tk 15,000 crore for electricity. If ever a compensation case needs to be filed, it should be laid against the incumbent government, he added.

Moudud said if the government considers Niko a bad company why the agreement with it has not yet been scrapped.

Describing the anti-corruption drive nothing but a farce, he said good people were arrested, but the real corrupts were being sheltered.

The former law minister demanded immediate lifting of the state of emergency.

About the jail condition, Moudud said he is deprived of basic rights in jail. “Where is the rule of law?” he asked to know.

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