BNP has ‘taken corruption as policy’, Hasina says on Khaleda, Tarique’s conviction

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the BNP has ‘adopted corruption as its policy’ by retaining Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman as its leaders even after they are convicted of corruption.

The ruling Awami League president made the comments while speaking in parliament on Wednesday as Khaleda was spending the 20th day in jail for Tk 21 million graft in Zia Orphanage Trust.

After a special court sentenced the former prime minister to five years in jail on Feb 8, her son and BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique was made acting chief of the party.

Tarique, who has been in London for a decade and convicted of money-laundering, is among five others who were sentenced to 10 years in jail in the orphanage trust graft case.

In her closing speech on the president’s address to parliament on Wednesday, Hasina criticised the BNP for changing its constitution before the court delivered the verdict to allow convicted people to remain in the party.

“It means they have accepted graft as their policy and convicts as their leaders,” she said.   

“What will they do for the people? They can only plunder and commit corruption, but not do any good to the people,” she added.

“Wasn’t there anyone else in the BNP who could be given the charge?” she asked, criticising the BNP decision to choose Tarique as acting chief.

Speaking about the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the prime minister asked, “How couldn’t they stop themselves from looting only Tk 20 million?”

During the parliament session on Jan 24, the prime minister ripped into the civil society actors, saying they are blinded by their lust for power and do not see or hear anything they do not like.

She also likened them to dustbins and circus donkeys on that day.

Mainul Husein, an adviser to the 2007-08 military-controlled caretaker government, expressed ire at a recent programme over Hasina’s remarks.

On Wednesday, without naming Mainul, the prime minister said, “A gentleman is talking big now…seems to be very wise. He is hurt (by my remarks).” 

“I’ve watched him saying in TV talk shows that educated people like him have been called donkey. I just told story. If someone feels hurt, and if he considers himself a donkey, then I have nothing to do,” she added.    

She also recalled how Mainul formed a political party called Pragatisheel Ganatantrik Shakti in the 80s with Bazlul Huda and Aziz Pasha, self-confessed killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Manju Bhai (Anwar Hossain Manju) can tell you better about this,” Hasina said. 

Jatiya Party (JP) leader Manju, younger brother of Mainul, is a member of Hasina’s cabinet.

She questioned the source of money behind the party formed by Mainul.

“The money came from the Ittefaq (newspaper). And whose Ittefaq was it? Funded by Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the Ittefaq had belonged to the Awami League. Later, it became personal property,” she replied herself.

“That gentleman (Mainul) studied abroad with the Ittefaq’s money and became a barrister…but the money actually was of Mr Suhrawardy. No one cares about the how his (Suhrawardy’s) son is doing now.”

Mainul and Manju are sons of Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia, the founder editor of the Bangla daily.

“And we have to listen to lectures on democracy from him (Mainul) now. That’s unfortunate for Bangladesh,” she added.

The prime minister also said Mainul had her arrested during the caretaker government after becoming an adviser to it on the Awami League’s recommendation.