Khaleda will face charges of trying to topple govt: Suranjit

Senior Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta has warned that BNP chief Khaleda Zia will face charges of trying to topple the regime for 'instigating anti-government conspiracies'.

At a programme on Friday, he said an ‘upset’ BNP chief had a 'history' of conspiring with government officials.

He said Khaleda held a meeting with several 'frustrated' bureaucrats on Thursday.

Sengupta also recalled a 'similar meeting' in 2006 led by Khaleda's former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman.

The ruling party leader said the people expected the administration to be impartial.

"They (administration) have to do their work. Conspiring to topple a government at a late night meeting is not their job. It's a crime.

"They alone did not commit this crime. Khaleda Zia will be named as the prime accused in the case for instigating conspiracy to bring down the government," Sengupta said.

Media reports on Thursday night claimed Khaleda had met a group of government officials.

The BNP, however, rubbished the claim, but the government announced it would look into the issue.

Sengupta on Friday further alleged that the BNP was dropping anti-government movement plans and had started conspiring as the corruption cases against Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman were coming to an end.

He added, "I urge the government to take effective steps against them (government officials). I'd like to see a strong investigation committee at the behest of the prime minister by Sunday.

“After investigating the whole matter, action should be taken against them as per the service rules.”

He said anyone as a citizen of the country could join politics. But doing politics while holding a government post would be in breach of service rules, he added.

Sengupta recalled 'Janatar Mancha' (People's Platform) that was formed during the mass uprising in the 1990s.

He said the then bureaucrats had met the then president and joined the platform when the government became illegitimate. "Uprising and conspiracy are not the same thing."

"If a conspiracy becomes successful, then it's an uprising. Otherwise, it's just plain conspiracy," he stressed.