Petition for Khaleda's harsher punishment motivated: BNP

A BNP senior leader alleged on Thursday that the filing of an appeal with the High Court (HC) by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking harsher punishment for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case is not only unlawful but also politically motivated, report agencies.

"The filing of a review petition by the ACC for increasing Khaleda Zia's punishment is completely illegal. There's no provision in the ACC law to file such a petition," BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city on Thursday.

Rizvi turned down Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader's outline on forming the election-time government with members of the parties which have representation in parliament, saying it will be the unilateral government of a 'bizarre' parliament.

About Thursday's election to 133 union parisads (UP) at different parts of the country, the BNP leader said the voting was held amid rigging and violence in the Awami League style.