No election without Khaleda: BNP secretaries’ council

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Aditto Rimon
Published : 06:00, Jul 23, 2018 | Updated : 06:00, Jul 23, 2018

No election without Khaleda: BNP secretaries’ councilThe BNP’s council of secretaries has advised the party’s policymaking National Standing Committee to not take part in the national election with party chief Khaleda Zia behind the bars.
A three-time prime minister, Khaleda is serving a five-year term after being convicted of embezzling foreign donations made to the Zia Orphanage Trust.
The BNP describes the corruption charges as politically-motivated attempts to shut its chief out from the parliamentary polls slated later this year.
On Sunday, a meeting between the secretaries and Standing Committee members was held at the BNP headquarters in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan.
Several BNP leaders, who attended the meeting, told Bangla Tribune that elections with Khaleda in jail will demoralise the grassroots leaders.
“The council of secretaries believe that the BNP should not join the polls without Khaleda Zia. The secretaries presented their cases, but none of the Standing Committee members addressed the meeting,” said Joint Secretary Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal.
The council agreed that the top priority is party chief’s release from prison, according to Self-employment Secretary Shirin Sultana. “The issue of taking part election can only be considered after that.”
BNP secretaries called the policymaking forum to complete the process of forming pending committees of front organisations across the country.
“We have advised on peaceful movement to press the demand of party chief’s release, but we also called to expedite process of forming committees, which will give pace to the movement,” Organising Secretary Shama Obayed told Bangla Tribune.
Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam wrapped up the meeting with a brief remark.
“Your statements have been noted, which will be discussed the policymaking forum,” BNP leaders who attended the meeting quoted him saying.

/zmi/
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