Lawyers' jostling proves BNP has no respect for law: Quader

Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader said on Friday the scuffle among the pro-BNP lawyers on the court premises has demonstrated that the party has no respect for the law, reports UNB.

He also accused BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia of harassing the court by prolonging the trial process seeking time from the court repeatedly and remaining absent from appearing before it.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, came up with the allegation while inaugurating Dhaka north city unit Awami League's member collection and renewal drive on the Gulshan Youth Club ground.

"Her (Khaleda's) lawyers' scuffle has exposed that they have no respect for the law. You've understood through it what will happen if they go to power," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Pro-BNP lawyers got engaged in jostling to get centre stage before television cameras during a media briefing soon after Khaleda left the court area.

About Khaleda's allegation that the government is trying to influence the court to deprive her of justice, Quader said BNP praises the court when any case goes under its favour, but it accuses government of interfering when it goes against the party.

Quader alleged that many media outlets in the country are not doing justice to Awami League as they did not highlight public sufferings caused by obstruction of roads by BNP men on Wednesday in the name of receiving their chairperson. "There would have been big reports on public sufferings had it been caused by Awami League."

He urged the media not to play a biased role and do justice for all parties with their objective reports.

About his party's 11-point proposal submitted to the Election Commission, Quader said his party didn't oppose deployment of army in the polls.

"We've said if the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner feel it necessary to engage army, they'll do it as per the law. We didn't say that the army can't be deployed in the polls."

On Wednesday, Awami League placed an 11-point proposal, including introduction of the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), before the Commission during its dialogue for holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.