BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has issued a legal notice to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleging disparaging remarks made earlier in December.
The notice was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday via registered post.
On Wednesday morning, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressed the media in a press briefing, where he said the notice warned of legal ramifications involving compensation if the prime minister does not apologize within 30 days after being served.
The notice says: “On December 7, you made various disparaging remarks about Khaleda Zia during a press briefing at Ganabhaban. The remarks have been broadcast via electronic media. Many national dailies, online media, and social media have widely circulated the remarks. You delivered false and spiteful statements against Khaleda Zia. You said she owns a shopping mall in Saudi Arabia and holds vast fortunes there. You have accused her of laundering money. You have also lied about her sons. The remarks you made about Khaleda Zia and her sons are false, untrue, fabricated, and spiteful.”
The notice also read: “Your spiteful remarks are a stain upon the good name, reputation, honesty, and honour of Khaleda Zia. It is a shallow attempt to denigrate her locally and internationally. This statement has caused innumerable losses for which you are legally responsible. Hence, you are formally asked to unconditionally apologize to Khaleda Zia. If you do not apologize, we have instructions to pursue legal channels in pursuit of compensation for your deceitful, disparaging, disgraceful remarks.”
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Earlier on December 7, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference voiced her discontent as the mainstream media did not run any report on Khaleda Zia's 'assets in Saudi Arabia'.
According to some media reports based on the information by Global Intelligence Network' and 'Canadian TV channel The National, anti-corruption investigation in Saudi Arabia revealed that Khaleda and her family members have assets in that country.
On December 8, BNP protested the PM's remarks and threatened to take legal action if Sheikh Hasina does not apologise.
Eleven days after their threat, Khaleda sent the legal notice to the address of the Prime Minister and Awami President Sheikh Hasina.
"The allegation brought by you (PM) about Begum Khaleda Zia and her sons is fabricated, motivated and vindictive one. You've brought the allegation in a planned way against Bangladesh's most popular and clean politician Khaleda Zia to dent her image," the notice reads.
It also said the Prime Minister's defamatory statement caused serious damage to Khaleda. "We're urging you through the notice to offer an unconditional apology to Begum Khaleda Zia."
The notice described the PM's comment on Khaleda as 'malicious, defamatory, deceitful and insidious' ones. "Your libelous long statement about Khaleda Zia and her family members have been designed with an ulterior motive to destroy her political career and make your political gains."
The notice also said Sheikh Hasina made the 'spiteful' comments also to tarnish Khaleda's reputation, dignity, honesty and malign her at home and abroad and ruin her social and political image. "You (PM) are legally responsible for the irreparable losses and damages caused by the defamatory comments."This story was first published on Bangla Tribune
Thursday, June 04, 2026
