Govt designing blueprint to keep me away from election: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today blamed the government for “drawing a blueprint design” in a bid to keep her away from politics and election by implicating with politically motivated cases.

“The ruling quarter is drawing a blueprint design with a dishonest political motive to keep me away from politics and disqualify me from election,” Khaleda came up with the remarks in her self-defense statement before a makeshift court in Dhaka.

The BNP chief was delivering her self-defense statement before the court on Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases in Bakshi Bazar area of the capital.

“It’s proven clearly through the activities of the government’s high ups that I would be denied of justice,” she said.

Khaleda said some ministers are openly speaking that she would be sent to Kashimpur jail while some ruling party leaders are threatening that she would be eliminated from politics.

“Such type of speech and threat is tantamount to the contempt of court,” the former prime minister said.

Magic wand in Sheikh Hasina’s hand  

“With the grace of the magic wand, all corruption and extortion charges lodged against Sheikh Hasina have been quashed after she (Hasina) assumed power while the similar cases lodged against me have been revived as my hand is now empty,” she said.

I am hopeful for justice

The BNP chief also expressed her optimism that the court would ensure justice ignoring “pressure putting from different influential quarters”.

“I don’t treat me as above of law. I am not claiming any additional privilege but wants the due dignity as a senior citizen of the country,” Khaleda Zia said in the statement before the court.

She appeared before the court around 11:00 am.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station, against four, including Khaleda, of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources through abuse of power.

ACC filed Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008, with Ramna Police Station, accusing Khaleda, her elder son Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.