Govt trying to hold Jan 5 like polls keeping me in jail: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today said the government is trying to keep her in jail for a long period so that it can arrange a lopsided election like that of January 5, 2014.

Khaleda Zia came up with the comments while a four-member lawyer panel met her at the old Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road in Dhaka this afternoon.

“Khaleda Zia said the lower courts are not granting her bail and withdrawing production warrants even though the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld her High Court bail in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. That means, the government wants to keep her in jail in arranging another lopsided election once again," Masud Ahmed Talukder, one of the four lawyers who met Khaleda Zia, told The Daily Star.

He said the BNP chief has called upon her party leaders and activists to continue a peaceful movement across the country for her (Khaleda) release from the jail.

About health condition of the BNP chief, the lawyer said Khaleda Zia is seriously ill and she cannot move normally.

She (Khaleda) feels that if she is provided treatment at United Hospital then she would get rid of the illness, Masud said.

She (Khaleda) has conveyed Ramadan greetings in advance to the people and her party leaders and activists, he added.

Other three lawyers who met Khaleda Zia from 4:00pm to 5:15pm are Advocate KhnadkerMahbub Hossain, AJ Mohammad Ali and Sanaullah Miah.

On February 8, Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years' rigorous imprisonment after it found her (Khaleda) and five others guilty in the Zia Orphanage graft case.