Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader has urged Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) members to blame the caretaker government for sending BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to jail.
He stated this on Saturday morning, after visiting the Mohakhali bus terminal; in response to Moudud Ahmed's—a senior BNP politician's—allegations, on Friday, that Khaleda Zia is not being released because of the government’s political influence.
Quader said: “Khaleda was sent to jail by the court due to a case filed by the regime of the caretaker government.
“If they have to blame anyone, it should be the caretaker government.”
Addressing Moudud, Quader asked: “Who sent Khaleda Zia to jail? The government or the case filed against her?”
“They have to protest the court's decision, as it has convicted her. The government has nothing to do with it,” the Awami League secretary added.
When asked about the killings of a few grassroots Awami League leaders, based on the party’s internal clashes, Quader said: “If the killings are actually happening due to internal clashes, then we are really concerned.
“Awami League will soon take punishing measures to prevent such killings.”
On the recent suspension of 19 Chhatra League leaders, and protests by some others, the AL leader said: “We are always in contact with the protesting committee, and try to discuss the matter with them.
“We hope it will be solved soon.”
Khaleda has been serving her sentence, since February last year, at the Old Dhaka Central Jail after being convicted in two corruption cases.
On April 1 this year, Khaleda Zia was admitted to the BSMMU hospital as her health condition deteriorated while she was serving time in jail. A five-member medical board was formed to examine her condition.
Currently, the trial proceedings of 17 cases against Khaleda are being held at a makeshift court set up in the old jail.
