The BNP has blamed the government for trying to keep its jailed Chairperson Khaleda Zia out of polls.
“Why does the judiciary show such a hurry to finish Khaleda’s trial in absentia? We can understand that the government has hatched a conspiracy to keep her out of the election,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a media briefing in the city on Friday (Sept 21), Mirza Fakhrul demanded to halt the hearing in the graft case and release Khaleda immediately.
“We can’t accept the court order on continuing Kaleda’s trial in absentia. We want to tell the court, ‘Stop hearing, arrange treatment and release her immediately,” he said.
Speaking on the party’s activists, the senior BNP leader said, “A total of 3,736 lawsuits were been filed against 313,130 people between Sept 1 to 18 with putting another 3,690 behind bars.”
Asked on whether to participate in Sunday’s rally on a possible national unity, Mirza Fakhrul said that his party is yet to decide.
“Decision will be taken through a discussion,” he said.