Shamim Iskander held to create pressure on Khaleda: Delwar
Sunday, 20 July 2008
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain Saturday said the caretaker government (CG) has arrested Shamim Iskander to create pressure on party chief Khaleda Zia, reports UNB.
The government arrested Iskander, the younger brother of Khaleda, Friday on charges of amassing wealth illegally. The arrest involves a case filed by the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC). "People think the arrest of Shamim Iskander has come to create pressure on Khaleda Zia," Delwar told a news conference in the morning at his NAM apartment in the city.
Delwar said a new spell of 'confusion' has surfaced because of the arrest of Iskander, a retired flight engineer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as it came a day after Arafat Rahman Koko was released from jail for medical treatment.
The BNP leader said they had seen a ray of hope after the release of Koko from jail for eight weeks but the situation quickly turned cloudy after the new arrest.
Delwar said Iskander was arrested when he went to see ailing Koko, Khaleda's youngest son. "The government has set a bad example because of the way it arrested him. The government could have arrested him from somewhere else if there is any charge against Iskander," he said.
Delwar demanded the government release Tarique Rahman, Khaleda's eldest son, without any delay following Koko's example, as Tarique's condition was deteriorating fast.
"Khaleda Zia will not flee the country, and if she is released, she will stay in touch with due legal course," Delwar said.
Replying to a query on any prospect of sitting with the government for the pending dialogue, he said, "We're an election-oriented party, we want to join the dialogue, but it must be meaningful. And we want to join the dialogue under the leadership of Khaleda Zia."
The government arrested Iskander, the younger brother of Khaleda, Friday on charges of amassing wealth illegally. The arrest involves a case filed by the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC). "People think the arrest of Shamim Iskander has come to create pressure on Khaleda Zia," Delwar told a news conference in the morning at his NAM apartment in the city.
Delwar said a new spell of 'confusion' has surfaced because of the arrest of Iskander, a retired flight engineer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as it came a day after Arafat Rahman Koko was released from jail for medical treatment.
The BNP leader said they had seen a ray of hope after the release of Koko from jail for eight weeks but the situation quickly turned cloudy after the new arrest.
Delwar said Iskander was arrested when he went to see ailing Koko, Khaleda's youngest son. "The government has set a bad example because of the way it arrested him. The government could have arrested him from somewhere else if there is any charge against Iskander," he said.
Delwar demanded the government release Tarique Rahman, Khaleda's eldest son, without any delay following Koko's example, as Tarique's condition was deteriorating fast.
"Khaleda Zia will not flee the country, and if she is released, she will stay in touch with due legal course," Delwar said.
Replying to a query on any prospect of sitting with the government for the pending dialogue, he said, "We're an election-oriented party, we want to join the dialogue, but it must be meaningful. And we want to join the dialogue under the leadership of Khaleda Zia."