The hope to get justice has been getting diminished in the country as the government has taken control over the judiciary, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed alleged today.

"The way the government has taken control over the lower courts, the hope for justice is getting diminished and the case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is an outcome of this reality," Rizvi said at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan office.

The BNP leader also came down heavily on the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) as it filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the Supreme Court praying to extend its stay order on Khaleda’s bail.

The leader also alleged that the ACC only is functioning as a government tool to carry out vengeance of the government.   

Rizvi also announced the deferment of Barisal divisional rally demanding release of the party’s chief from jail. The rally will be held on April 7 instead of March 24, he told reporters.

Earlier, the government and the ACC yesterday filed two separate leave-to-appeal petitions with the SC challenging the High Court order that granted bail to Khaleda, a former prime minister, in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The HC on Monday granted four months' bail to the former premier in the graft case in which she was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

The SC on March 14 following two separate petitions filed by the ACC and the government stayed the HC order of Khaleda’s bail till Sunday. The apex court also asked the ACC and government to file separate leave-to-appeal petitions with this court against the HC order by Sunday.