Political parties gave mixed reaction to the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday, with the Awami League and the Jamaat-e-Islami welcoming it.
“We’re always against political persecution. But our concern is that our leader Sheikh Hasina and other senior leaders did not get permanent release. Law should be equal for all,” acting AL President Zillur Rahman said in his immediate reaction.
Demanding the immediate withdrawal of all ‘false charges’ against the AL chief, he told the Daily Star that the government has no right to keep anyone detained after the release of Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman.
Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami welcomed Khaleda’s release in a statement, saying she earned her release through legal process, not through any executive order.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), however, took a swipe at the government for releasing Khaleda, saying it will further hamper the anti-corruption drive already dogged by “many compromises.”
Pointing to Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and other corruption suspects’ recent release, CPB President Manzurul Ahsan Khan said the government is “back to square one.”
“Moves to release the corrupt one after another and the formation of the Truth (and Accountability) Commission cancel out the government’s justification for the 1/11 changeover,” he said.
He warned that situations in the future might be worse than last year’s pre-January 11 days.
JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu said Khaleda’s release has damaged the anti-corruption drive.
“Government intervention was obvious in securing bail for Khaleda. The caretaker administration has been through this practice over the past few months in obtaining bail for a number of corruption suspects,” he said.
Considering the charges against the corruption suspects and the way the court proceedings went on at the beginning, he said there was a general perception that they would not be freed.
Inu said the future of a sustainable democracy will be bleak if the corrupt manage to participate in the elections.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said, “We’ve always stood for everyone’s right to bail. Khaleda Zia’s bail is welcome in that sense.”
Blaming last year’s political change on the BNP-Jamaat government’s massive corruption, he hoped that the BNP will act sensibly from now on.
Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Barrister Andalib Rahman and Secretary General Shamim Al Mamun also welcomed Khaleda’s release.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics
