Khaleda’s release stuck in govt conditions

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BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said the process of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release remains stuck, as the interim government has set some conditions including “endorsement of all its illegal deeds” for her release.

The other conditions include taking part in the upazila elections and the next general polls under the state of emergency, he said.

”But such conditions of the government are not acceptable to Khaleda Zia. Even people won’t accept those,” Delwar said at a news briefing after a two-hour-long meeting of the BNP-led four-party alliance at his Nam apartment in the capital.

Various issues including the planned human chain programme and current political scenario were discussed at the meeting that began at 11:00am.

The alliance earlier announced that it would hold a human chain programme on August 27 to press home its demand for immediate release of Khaleda and her ailing elder son Tarique Rahman.

Delwar slammed the Representation of the People (amendment) Ordinance 2008, which bans political parties from having front organisations.

“This (amended) ordinance is unconstitutional,” he said.

Delwar also alleged that it has been designed with a motive to hold the next general election according to a blueprint.

The BNP leader said the provision of “no vote” has been inserted into the amended RPO to divert people’s attention.

“The amendments have been made to keep the four-party alliance away from the election process,” he alleged.

Delwar said the Election Commission and the government have no mandate to make such a law in the absence of parliament. But the government has promulgated the ordinance with the president’s signature.

“We (the four-party alliance) reject the ordinance (RPO). The next general election will be illegal if it is held under it,” Delwar said.

He also accused the government of pursuing a double standard.

“Sheikh Hasina is free but Khaleda Zia is behind bars. Tarique Rahman’s condition is deteriorating. He has not been released for medical treatment although many others with minor complications have been freed,” he said.

The BNP secretary general also criticised the government for ignoring the suggestions by the medical board, which is treating Tarique at the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

“We are worried that he (Tarique) is partially paralysed …the government will have to bear all responsibility,” he said.

BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, Mohammad Qamaruzzaman, ATM Azaharul Islam and Rafiqul Islam Khan, BJP Chairman Andaleeb Rahman and Secretary General Shamim Al Mamun, IOJ Secretary General Abdul Latif Nejami and Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Ahmed Abdul Quader, among others, were present.

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