Assure bail, Khaleda will go to court: Khandker Mahbub

Khaleda Zia’s lawyer says she will surrender in court only if assured return to Gulshan political office without hindrance on bail.

The BNP chief faces arrest in two corruption cases for skipping hearing regularly.

Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Khaleda’s lawyer and political adviser, claims his client is feeling “insecure”.

He says they are yet to get a copy of the arrest warrant issued in the graft cases.

“We respect the law. She is willing to go to court if she has to,” Hossain said Tuesday, a day before the next hearing is scheduled.

Khaleda has been at her Gulshan office since Jan 3 amid her party's violent street agitation that has led to more than 100 deaths.

A Dhaka court issued a warrant of arrest for her in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases last week.

Hossain says the BNP chairperson will go to court if she is given “adequate security" but, more importantly, "an assurance that she will be allowed to return to her office”.

He said the ruling Awami League supporters had laid siege to her Gulshan office.

“It’s natural for her to feel insecure,” Hossain said. “We have reasons to believe she will not be allowed back to her Gulshan office once she gets out.”

So Hossain has laid down three conditions for Khaleda to appear in court -- ‘adequate security’ so as to ensure she is not attacked or harassed, grant of bail if she surrenders and to be allowed to return to her Gulshan office.

BNP’s Joint Secretary General Mahbub Uddin Khokon said the conditions were necessary.

“The government, court and the Anti Corruption Commission are working as one. That’s why these conditions are unavoidable,” he said replying to a question.

Khokon said they had moved the judge’s court as well as the High Court to overturn the arrest warrant.

A High Court bench is scheduled to hear the petition along with another one asking for a change of judge.

“The government appears to act with political vengeance,” he added.