Election without Khaleda an absurd dream, says Fakhrul

It will be an absurd dream if the government believes that an election without BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is possible, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.

While addressing a discussion at the National Press Club, he reiterated that the BNP chief was put behind bars in a “cooked-up” case.

The government has cooked-up the case to keep her away from the election, Fakhrul said.

“Their dream to hold the elections without Khaleda will not come true. We will get her released and contest the polls. A farcical election cannot be allowed to take place,” said the BNP stalwart.

On Feb 8, a special court set up in Old Dhaka convicted Khaleda in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and landed her in jail for five years.

The BNP claims that the government is deliberately delaying Khaleda’s bail. “People in such cases get bail when they appeal but the government is unjustly interrupting and denying Khaleda Zia from her rights,” Fakhrul said.

The senior BNP leader condemned the ruling party for the arrest of an activist of BNP’s student wing Chhatra Dal from a protest programme on Thursday.

“It is a rare incident and a clear violation of court order,” he said referring to the arrest of Mizanur Rahman Raj who was dragged away from the protests demanding release of Khaleda.

“He grabbed me tightly to go away from the government’s assaulters (police). I feel pained because I could not save him,” he went on.

Fakhrul also slammed the Election Commission. “The chief election commissioner said he would not take any initiative to make other parties contest the polls. You guys are here only to make sure that the Awami League sticks to power.”

The discussion was arranged in remembrance of Kazi Zafar and Shafiul Alam Prodhan, late leaders of BNP-led 20-party alliance.