Khaleda's verdict: Country's nerves on edge
A deep sense of uncertainty prevails among public as the government is taking stern measures to block BNP activists from gathering in Dhaka tomorrow ahead of the verdict of a graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
If sentenced, she will definitely have to land in jail tomorrow.
Apprehending unrest by BNP activists, the government has already deployed Border Guard Bangladesh personnel in different parts of the country and also alerted other law enforcing agencies.
Read More: Khaleda's Graft Case: BNP wary of Feb 8 verdict
Police are checking inter-district buses in search of BNP activists and are detaining them if found travelling.
A number of check posts have been set up on the highways. BNP offices, including the central one at Nayapaltan and the Gulshan office, are found all deserted around 3:00pm when the report was filed.
Meantime, Khaleda is to hold a press conference at her Gulshan office at 5:00pm, probably the last before the verdict.
She faces a maximum of life term if proven guilty. But more than that she would be out of the election race slated for December this year if she gets a minimum of two years' jail term and if her conviction is not stayed by the higher court.
The verdict may be a game changer in Bangladesh politics.
In her 35 years of political career, Khaleda went to the jail several times but never due to conviction. She had been detained several times during the anti-Ershad movement in the 1980s and in 1990.
During the last army-backed caretaker government, she was in jail for about a year on charge of corruption.
Khaleda was made vice-chairperson of BNP in March 1983 after the assassination of her husband Ziaur Rahman. She became chairperson of the party on May 10, 1984, a post she holds still today.
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