BNP accuses govt of conspiring against Khaleda

Senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the government was not taking any step to ensure better treatment of their party’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia as part of its “plot” to hold the next national polls without her participation. "We have demanded a better medical treatment of our leader by sending a delegation to the home minister, but the government is not paying heed to it as it wants to hold another voter-less election keeping BNP and Khaleda Zia out of the race," he said. Mosharraf came up with the comment while speaking at a discussion arranged by Khulna Divisional Students Forum at the National Press Club in Dhaka demanding the release of Khaleda and arrested BNP leaders from jail. Mosharraf, a BNP Standing Committee member, said people would take to the streets to exercise their voting right if the government tried to hold another January 5-like “lopsided” election. He alleged their chairperson was being kept in an inhuman condition in an abandoned jail after her conviction in a “false and fabricated” case at the behest of the government. He warned that the government would be held responsible if Khaleda's health condition deteriorates sharply for lack of treatment. Mosharraf said the government was regularly arresting their leaders and activists to suppress the opposition as it cannot tolerate criticism. He came down hard on the government for what he said arresting their Dhaka south city unit leaders on Sunday during their meeting over formation of the unit’s committee. "It seems there is no scope for even holding an indoor meeting in the country as the government has established unwritten one-party Baksal rule with the help of state machinery," Mosharraf observed. He said the ruling party leaders were making unguarded remarks about BNP as they were scared apprehending the consequences they would have to face after losing power. Mosharraf, who visited Gazipur election areas on Sunday, said the BNP mayoral candidate would win the May 15 city corporation election with a big margin. "Awami League also knows they will get one-fourth of the votes as the BNP candidate has received massive support from the people." He also warned that the elections to Gazipur and Khulna city corporations were an acid test for both the government and the Election Commission ahead of the 11th parliamentary election. He asked BNP leaders and activists to get ready to take to the streets together with people to restore their voting right and free Khaleda from jail.