The matter of BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s release on parole and the party’s MPs-elect joining Parliament can’t be connected, says the ruling Awami League.

“The elected BNP leaders are liable to the voters and it is also their moral responsibility to join the Jatiya Sangsad. It can’t be linked with Khaleda Zia’s parole,” Acting General Secretary Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif said on Saturday (Apr 20).

His remarks came while addressing a media call at the party chief’s Dhanmondi offices.

Blaming the BNP of making a fuss over Khaleda’s release he said, “Khaleda Zia is now serving prison on graft charges, not in any political case.”

“She (Khaleda) must get released as per the law.  Otherwise she has no scope to go abroad. Only the presidential clemency can help her,” Hanif added. 

An elected member of the parliament is liable to the voters and thus he or she would go to the parliament to raise voice for development and address problems of their respective electoral areas, he added.