‘Dire consequences’ if Khaleda is arrested: BNP

BNP today warned of “dire consequences” if the government arrests the party chief Khaleda Zia as per what it termed “plot to weaken BNP”.

“I have seen in the newspapers that a process is on to send our leader Khaleda Zia to jail. Though it is not an easy task to detain her, nothing is impossible for the Awami League-led government,” BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said at the party’s Dhaka City unit joint meeting in the capital, Dhaka.

The meeting was organised to work out plans to mark BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s 35th death anniversary programme a success.

Abbas, also convener of Dhaka City Unit of BNP, said: “I want to unequivocally state that the consequences will not be good if our leader is arrested, People of the country will not accept it.”

Addressing the meeting, another standing committee member of the party, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, urged party men to get ready to foil “the government’s conspiracy against Khaleda”.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday issued arrest warrant against 38 BNP leaders including Khaleda Zia in a case filed with Jatrabari Police Station in connection with an arson attack during demonstration last year.

Earlier on May 19, another Dhaka court warned that it would issue a warrant for the arrest of Khaleda if she fails to appear before it on June 2 for self-defence in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Abbas today alleged that a conspiracy is also being hatched against the party as was done before and during the 1/11 political changeover of 2007 to weaken it.