BNP briefs diplomats on latest political situation

--BNP briefs over 30 diplomats

-- ‘‘Political situation, cases against Khaleda discussed’’

BNP today briefed foreign diplomats in Dhaka about the country’s current political situation.

A team of BNP led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir briefed over 30 diplomats of different countries at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office this evening.

After holding around the two-hour-long meeting, Fakhrul told reporters that they exchanged views with the diplomats about the country’s latest political situation.

“It was a routine briefing as we do frequently. Nothing more than this,” Fakhrul said while he was asked whether Khaleda’s case was discussed in the meeting.

BNP, the political archrival of ruling Awami Leauge, sat with the diplomats barely five days after a court in Dhaka set February 8 to deliver its verdict against Khaleda Zia in connection with Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, brewing tension as the verdict might put the BNP chief out of the upcoming election.

A senior BNP leader, seeking anonymity, told The Daily Star that they informed the diplomats about the “upcoming verdict of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda Zia and the government’s intention to keep her out of the next parliamentary election”.

"The government has implicated our chairperson in the graft case based on false documents as of political vengeance against her," the senior leader said.

The party also provided some documents relating to the prime minister and others ministers’ comments on the sub-judicial matter to convict Khaleda in connection with the case, he said.

BNP senior leaders including Moudud Ahmed, Abdul Moeen Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were present at the meeting.