The government has sympathy for jailed former prime minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia but it has no intention to influence the court for her release, says senior Cabinet member Obaidul Quader.
He made the remarks on Saturday (Jan 25) while speaking to the media after an event of Brac Bank in Dhaka.
In response to a query on Khaleda's family planning for a special appeal for her release, Quader said it was yet to be clear whether the family would move the court or file it with the government.
"However, it's solely the court's matter. It's not about sympathy or empathy, but a completely legal affair," added the ruling Awami League's general secretary.
The government has sympathy for Khaleda but "we can't influence the court", said Quader.
Dismissing the BNP's allegations that the Awami League was using the administration to win in the city polls, he said, "These are all excuses as the BNP fears that it will lose the election.
Urging the BNP to come up with specific details on polls misconduct of ruling party candidate, he said, "I am the [general] secretary of the party and I have never been to any [campaign] office."