Khaleda’s release from jail has nothing to do with election: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said Khaleda Zia’s release from jail has nothing to do with the national election.

“She (Khaleda) received bail in a case. There are more cases. Carry on with your legal battle. The court may release her,” Quader said at an event in Dhaka on Friday.

His comment comes on the heels of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s allegation that the government has been trying to use the judiciary to prevent BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from participating in the next parliamentary election.

“The court punished her and it can release her too. The Awami League government cannot bail her out,” said Quader.

He said if the judiciary had listed to the government, Khaleda would not have received the bail.

Ruling out the Fakhrul’s threat to wage a movement for releasing Khaleda from jail, the AL leader said, “She got bail in a case, which means that the judiciary is independent. You can do nothing by waging a movement as tide does not come into the dead river.”

On the Khulna city election, Quader said, “Observers said the election was free and fair, except irregularities at two or three polling centres. It’s just the BNP that did not accept the election?”

He said the people’s support is eroding fast as the BNP has engaged in “negative politics”.