The BNP has resorted to a ‘blame game’ after it failed to evoke a response from the people in the recently-held local government polls, says Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.
She said the cat in the bag was out when police obtained the recording of a phone conversation of BNP leaders over the Rajshahi bomb attack on a campaign event of the party’s mayoral candidate.
“It was an inside job to blame the Awami League. The sole objective was to gain international attention,” Hasina said on Monday while addressing a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee.
Her comments came a day after police arrested Rajshahi BNP General Secretary Matiur Rahman Montu over the attack on Jul 17, which left five people injured.
Rajshahi police officials said that BNP leaders ‘planned the attack by themselves’ in an effort to ‘raise questions’ about the election environment.
Montu was arrested late on Saturday after police obtained a recording of a ‘phone conversation’ between him and BNP Assistant Office Secretary Taiful Islam Tipu.
“There is no doubt that various games will start when the national election is nearing,” Hasina told the party meeting at her official residence the Ganabhaban.
She once again said that Khaleda Zia fakes illness in jail.
“She is having the time of her life in prison. But only when a court hearing is scheduled she falls sick,” Hasina said before adding.“Khaleda Zia is enjoying all the facilities, including air-conditioning and maid servant.”
Brushing aside the BNP claims of Khaleda’s corruption charges being politically motivated, Hasina said that the BNP chief was convicted in court. “Their big shot lawyers failed to prove that she was not guilty of corruption.”
A three-time prime minister, Khaleda is serving a five-year term at the old jailhouse in Dhaka since Feb 8, when a Dhaka court convicted her of embezzling foreign donations made to the Zia Orphanage Trust.