Khaleda demands Hasina's release
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Suffering the same fate in the changed situation, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Wednesday demanded immediate release of her arch political rival, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, if there is any legal scope for dealing with her case by setting her free, reports UNB.
"It's my perception that it would have been better to complete the prosecution process by not arresting Sheikh Hasina and not opposing her bail petition by government side," she said in a press statement.
"It would have reduced to a great extent mutual distrust and doubt as well social tensions and political unrest," added the immediate-past Prime Minister in her observations about the predicament of Hasina, also an ex-premier.
Both received notices Wednesday from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) directing them to submit account of their wealth within a week, as part of the drive launched by the interim regime under the current state of emergency against corruption in high places.
She said that, though unwarranted, the reasons for which the state of emergency was inevitable, peace-loving people in no way do want the recurrence of such disturbance and chaos.
At the same time, Khaleda noted, a prolonged state of emergency could not bring good for the nation. "We will have to move forward towards a sustainable democracy by ensuring stability at this critical juncture of the nation.
"For that it is necessary to establish national consensus and understanding by shunning malice and divisions. Today, I feel that opportunity and prospect have been created to a great extent. To achieve this all will have to show wisdom, farsightedness and tolerance."
Meanwhile, Awami League policymakers plan to sit with senior lawyers today (Thursday) to chart the legal course of action to deal with cases against party chief Sheikh Hasina as protests continued in different places demanding her immediate release.
Former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru said senior lawyers of the Supreme Court will sit today to examine the cases and draw the legal strategy to face them in the court of law.
"We've already submitted petitions before the court praying for certified copies of the court orders along with the first information report (FIR) in connection with the extortion case filed with Gulshan Thana," he said.
Khasru, also a Supreme Court lawyer, said the extortion case against the former prime minister cannot be brought under the emergency power rules with retrospective effect as the occurrence related to the case happened eight years ago.
Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed said leaders and workers of Awami League were shocked and aggrieved at the arrest of Sheikh Hasina. He said there is "no split" in Awami League and any decision would be taken together.
Meanwhile, workers of Awami League and its front organisations staged protests at different places, including Rangpur and Gopalganj, demanding release of Sheikh Hasina.
In Rangpur, a group of Jubo League and Chhatra League activists took out a procession from Jahaj Company crossing to the Press Club in the town, chanting slogans on demand for her release.
They distributed leaflets among people with a call for shutting down educational institutions and businesses from morning to noon today (Thursday).
In Patuakhali town, Juba League activists and leaders brought out a procession demanding the leader's release.
The protesters marched through the streets of the small town while they chanted anti-government slogans, ignoring emergency rules that banned all political activity.
"It's my perception that it would have been better to complete the prosecution process by not arresting Sheikh Hasina and not opposing her bail petition by government side," she said in a press statement.
"It would have reduced to a great extent mutual distrust and doubt as well social tensions and political unrest," added the immediate-past Prime Minister in her observations about the predicament of Hasina, also an ex-premier.
Both received notices Wednesday from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) directing them to submit account of their wealth within a week, as part of the drive launched by the interim regime under the current state of emergency against corruption in high places.
She said that, though unwarranted, the reasons for which the state of emergency was inevitable, peace-loving people in no way do want the recurrence of such disturbance and chaos.
At the same time, Khaleda noted, a prolonged state of emergency could not bring good for the nation. "We will have to move forward towards a sustainable democracy by ensuring stability at this critical juncture of the nation.
"For that it is necessary to establish national consensus and understanding by shunning malice and divisions. Today, I feel that opportunity and prospect have been created to a great extent. To achieve this all will have to show wisdom, farsightedness and tolerance."
Meanwhile, Awami League policymakers plan to sit with senior lawyers today (Thursday) to chart the legal course of action to deal with cases against party chief Sheikh Hasina as protests continued in different places demanding her immediate release.
Former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru said senior lawyers of the Supreme Court will sit today to examine the cases and draw the legal strategy to face them in the court of law.
"We've already submitted petitions before the court praying for certified copies of the court orders along with the first information report (FIR) in connection with the extortion case filed with Gulshan Thana," he said.
Khasru, also a Supreme Court lawyer, said the extortion case against the former prime minister cannot be brought under the emergency power rules with retrospective effect as the occurrence related to the case happened eight years ago.
Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed said leaders and workers of Awami League were shocked and aggrieved at the arrest of Sheikh Hasina. He said there is "no split" in Awami League and any decision would be taken together.
Meanwhile, workers of Awami League and its front organisations staged protests at different places, including Rangpur and Gopalganj, demanding release of Sheikh Hasina.
In Rangpur, a group of Jubo League and Chhatra League activists took out a procession from Jahaj Company crossing to the Press Club in the town, chanting slogans on demand for her release.
They distributed leaflets among people with a call for shutting down educational institutions and businesses from morning to noon today (Thursday).
In Patuakhali town, Juba League activists and leaders brought out a procession demanding the leader's release.
The protesters marched through the streets of the small town while they chanted anti-government slogans, ignoring emergency rules that banned all political activity.