Hasina makes volte-face over quota: Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday claimed that his party is not doing politics over quota reform movement and the health of the party’s jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia.

“The party, as a big political party, is only projecting truths before the people,” Mirza Fakhrul told a human chain organised in front of the National Press Club in the capital.

Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad, a pro-BNP platform of professionals, organised the human chain demanding release and treatment of BNP chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

“The quota reform movement of the unemployed youths is justified. The prime minister [Sheikh Hasina] announced in anger in parliament that there would be no quota, but now she is saying there is no scope to go beyond the High Court verdict on the issue. She has clearly made a U-turn.”

Dwelling on the court decision on the quota system in the public service, the BNP leader said the court has not given any verdict on it, rather it made an observation.

He also alleged that the prime minister is using the court whenever it suits her interests.

Fakhrul also criticized ruling Bangladesh Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his remark that the BNP is doing ‘dirty politics’ over Khaleda’s health.

“Quader is misguiding the people by this kind of remarks. Khaleda Zia has been kept in jail in an ‘utterly false and politically motivated’ case in a bid to keep her away from politics and election.”

Fakhrul alleged that Khaleda is not even getting minimum legal facilities.

“Though she obtained bail in the primary case, her release is now being delayed by bringing one ‘false case’ after another to the fore. The government wants to keep her behind bars as long as its goal is not fulfilled,” he added. 

He alleged that the Awami League-led government’s goal is to cling to power by conducting another one-sided election like that of 5 January 2014. 

Criticising the recent incident of adulterating the gold kept in Bangladesh Bank’s vault, Fakhrul said the finance minister is giving shelter to those involved in widespread corruption.

He also claimed that the finance minister is destroying country’s economy.