BNP itself undecided over Khaleda’s release

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is itself undecided over its chief Khaleda Zia’s release.

He said, “They (BNP) don’t know what they want. “Once they say that they will go for movement to release her. . . On the other hand, they phoned our general secretary to free her.”

The Minister told this to the reporters after attending a sports competition on Government Physical Education College ground at Mohammadpur in the capital on Saturday.

Agrani Bank Limited organised the annual sports competition for its employees.

Hasan Mahmud said “The government does not have any authority to free Khaleda Zia. . . if it (government) is to exercise this authority, then the honorable prime minister will have to discharge duties as the chief justice which the constitution does not allow.”

He reiterated that legal means were only option to release Khaleda Zia from jail. 

“There is no way of freeing BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia through movement or street campaigns, and the legal way could be the only path to release her from jail,” said Hasan, also Awami League (AL) joint general secretary.

The minister said the BNP chief is in prison being convicted in a graft case and only the court can release her.

Dhaka/Parvez/AKA