Khaleda Zia to do politics if a favourable environment in place: BNP

Stating that the Law Minister’s recent comment on their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has created confusion in the public mind, BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Thursday said she will definitely do politics if a favourable environment is created.

“They (government) are giving different statements at times (over Khaleda’s scope to do politics). They’re creating a smoke screen over the issue,” he said.

Talking to reporters after a meeting between the liaison committees of BNP and Ganatantra Mancha at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Tuku said the Prime Minister once threatened that Khaleda Zia will be sent to jail again if she does politics. “Now her law minister is saying that there’s no barrier for Khaleda Zia to do politics. You (journalists) say which one we’ll accept.”

He also said they are not interested in what the ministers are saying about Khaleda Zia.

“I think it is an insignificant matter. Begum Khaleda Zia did politics, became a leader from the field of politics, and became the Prime Minister thrice…Begum Khaleda Zia will definitely do politics if a favourable environment is created,” Tuku said.

He also said people don’t understand what the government wants to mean as the ruling party leaders are making contradictory comments over Khaleda’s right to do politics. “BNP is least bothered about the ruling party leaders’ comments on the matter,” he said.

Earlier at an event in the capital on Sunday, the law minister said the BNP chairperson can take part in politics, but she is barred from contesting the next general election because of her conviction for corruption.

The government will not interfere if she does politics, the minister said. “Whether she will do politics or not, it’s her personal matter,” he said.

Khaleda has been convicted in a case of corruption in Zia Orphanage Trust and sentenced to 10 years in jail. In another corruption case involving Zia Charitable Trust she has been given seven years of imprisonment.

Her sentences have been suspended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on humanitarian grounds considering her poor health following a petition by her family.

In the meeting, Tuku said they discussed the issue of growing anarchy in the education sector by the Chhatra League.

"Different untoward incidents are happening on the campus. We’re deeply concerned as the way the education system is being collapsed and our girls are being targeted and repressed on every campus,” he said.

As part of their simultaneous movement, the BNP leader said they will announce action programmes against the anarchy on the campus in the future. “We call upon the students to come forward in this regard.”

In over an hour-long meeting, the leaders of the BNP and Ganatantra Mancha also discussed their next course of action and the joint declaration of the simultaneous movement.

Ganatantra Mancha leader Hasnat Quayum said, "We have discussed finalising the joint declaration of our simultaneous movement. Hopefully, we will be able to come up with the joint declaration in a very short time.”

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikay Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Junaid Saki, Gano Odhikar Parishad member secretary Nurul Haque Nur, among others, were present at the meeting.