Govt to make mistake if Khaleda arrested: Moudud

BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed today said that the government will make a mistake if it arrests the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia implicating her with “politically motivated” cases.

“I think the arrest warrant issued against Khaleda Zia is an outcome of the government’s politics of vengeance,” Moudud said while addressing a programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka this afternoon.

“Khaleda Zia was a prime minister and the court didn’t do the right job by issuing arrest warrant against her,” Moudud, also a former law minister, said.

Claiming that the arrest warrant will be revoked if Khaleda Zia appears before the court with a bail prayer, Moudud said Khaleda Zia is respectful to the law and thus she is returning home without completing her proper treatment.

On October 9, a Comilla court issued arrest warrant against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a case filed for an arson attack that killed eight people during BNP-led 20-party alliance’s anti-government agitation in 2015.

Govt commits mistake “interfering in judiciary”  

Referring to the leave of Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, Moudud said the government has made a great mistake by “interfering in the judiciary” and it will have to pay heavily in future.

“Chief justice is not a person rather it is a constitutional institution. The government has tarnished the dignity of the constitutional institution by sending Justice Sinha on leave,” he added.

About the corruption allegations brought against Justice Sinha, Moudud said it was not wise decision to bring such allegations in his (Sinha) absentia. It proves that the country’s “judiciary is no longer independent”, he added.

The incidents which have been happened centering the 16th amendment verdict is shameful and it has again been proved that Awami League does “believe” in independence in judiciary, he added.

Govt’s will is important to hold fair election  

It depends on the government’s will, not the election commission whether the next general election will be held in a free, fair and impartial manner.

The Election Commission will not be able to play its neutral role under the political government and thus election-time “neutral government” is needed, Moudud said.

Moudud also welcomed Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda as he admitted during the electoral talks that BNP founder Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman has restored “multi-party democracy” in the country.

On Sunday during talks with BNP, the Chief Election Commissioner lauded BNP founder General Ziaur Rahman and said he restored “multi-party democracy” in the country.

BNP ready to stand beside govt to solve Rohingya crisis

Expressing grave concern over the huge influx of Rohingya people, Moudud said the huge presence of the Rohingya people may instigate extremism in the country.

Blaming the government’s diplomatic failure to cope up with the issue, the BNP leader said the government will have to form a national unity to ensure smooth repatriation of all the Rohingyas.

“We will remain beside the government if it forms such unity to cope up with the Rohingya crisis,” he added.