AL threatens to take legal action for legal notice

Ruling Awami League on Wednesday threatened to go for legal action if the legal notice sent by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia to prime minister Sheikh Hasina is not withdrawn.

The threat came from a press conference held at the election conducting office of the ruling party at Dhanmondi in Dhaka, reports UNB.

AL presidium member and agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury and AL publicity and publication secretary Hasan Mahmud addressed the press conference.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had sent a legal notice to prime minister Sheikh Hasina demanding an apology for making ‘malicious and defamatory’ remarks about her reported assets abroad.

On behalf of the BNP chief, her counsel and BNP joint secretary general barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon sent the notice by post on Tuesday.

Matia Chowdhury said their party will face the matter legally as Khaleda Zia sent a legal notice.

She also said AL never publicises anything without having proof. “Awami League never speaks about baseless matter.”

Hasan Mahmud said Khaleda sent the legal notice at a time when the corruption issue of herself and her family members are hitting headlines both at home and abroad. “This is just to divert the matter,” he said.

Hasan Mahmud told the press conference that there are allegations Khaleda and her family members siphoned off USD 12 billion to 12 countries.

Accusing Khaleda of whitening black money, he urged her to apologise to people for corruption and siphoning off money.

Responding to a query, Hasan Mahmud said AL has evidence about the investment by Khaleda and her family members in some Middle Eastern countries. “Various online media have run stories about that,” he added.

About Khaleda’s legal notice, Hasan Mahmud said they did not get it yet. They came to know about it from media reports.