Khaleda has no faith in local lawyers: Nasim

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim said on Wednesday jailed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has appointed a foreign lawyer as she has no faith in the local lawyers handling her cases, reports BSS.

"Khaleda Zia doesn't have any faith in her local lawyers . . . BNP has further proved its bankruptcy by appointing British lawyer Lord Carlile, who was a lobbyist for war criminals during the war crimes trial here," he said while speaking at a programme organised by Universal Medical College Research Centre (UMCRC) at Jatiya Press Club here.

Nasim, also an Awami League presidium member, criticised Begum Zia and her BNP for appointing the British lawyer, saying, "He is the lawyer who was earlier appointed to fight the cases of war criminals Salauddin Quader and Meer Quashem Ali in the war crimes trial."

The minister refuted the allegation of BNP over the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia in a graft case and said the government has no intention to keep her in jail and it had nothing to do with it.

Referring to the next general election, the senior AL leader said an elected government is the government of a country and the next polls will be held in line with the country's Constitution.

UMCH Chairman Priti Chakrabarty presided over the programme.

Former Health Adviser Dr Syed Modasser Ali, President of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (SWACHIP) Prof Dr M Iqbal Arslan, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Ashish Kumar Chakrabarty and city AL leader Dr Dilip Roy, among others, spoke on the occasion.