Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday in an instant reaction to a graft case verdict against party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman said it is another example of the ruling Awami League (AL)-directed verdict.
He said the verdict is an ugly example of politicisation of the judiciary by the ruling AL.
"This directed court verdict is a part of the government's serial conspiracy to make the country devoid of democracy," he told the media at a press briefing on the verdict at the party chairperson's office in the capital's Gulshan area.
He said filing cases against party chairperson Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and other BNP leaders and activists is just to perpetuate their (Awami League's) misrule.
"This is a government-directed verdict, as right now 4.9 million cases have been pending with the courts," the BNP secretary general said.
He added the case against Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman was disposed of hurriedly.
"This directed verdict (by the government) is an outcome of the government's jealous and antagonistic attitude towards BNP," he said.
He added the government could not suppress Tarique Rahman who is fighting "to restore democracy".
Mr Fakhrul demanded that the government immediately withdraw the false cases filed against Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman.
Meanwhile, BNP brought out a procession on Wednesday afternoon in protest against the court verdict against Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman in a graft case for amassing wealth beyond their known sources of income.
BNP vice-president Barkatullah Bulu led the procession that started from its Naya Paltan central office in the capital and paraded through Kakrail intersection and ended near the party office.
Senior joint secretary general of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, president of Mahila Dal Afroza Abbas, student affairs secretary of the party Rakibul Islam Bakul, president of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Sultan Salahuddin Tuku and its acting general secretary Shafiqul Islam Milton, among others, participated in the procession.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com