BNP to fix polls strategy after Khaleda verdict

The next course of national politics, particularly how the upcoming parliamentary elections will be held, largely depends on the pending verdict of the graft cases against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, say political observers.

By then, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders think, it will be obvious what kind of election the Awami League government, that got a virtual walkover in 2014 due to the BNP’s boycott, wants to hold.

“These two lawsuits should have bearing on national politics especially the next elections,” said Emajuddin Ahamed, political scientist and former vice chancellor of Dhaka University.

He also pointed out that current prime minister Sheikh Hasina had also been implicated in similar cases during the army-controlled caretaker government in 2007-2008 but all were quashed once her party came to power through the 2008 elections.

The trial process of the Zia Orphanage Trust case filed against the BNP chief, Khaledea Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and a few other party leaders, is nearing completion.

Another lawsuit -- Zia Charitable Trust case -- is also pending against Khaleda Zia and others at the same court. These two, out of 34 cases, are being disposed of fast, according to lawyers.

Concerned about the potential verdict in the BNP chairperson’s cases, BNP leaders believe, the ruling Awami League will also be working out its own poll strategies depending on whether Khaleda Zia is convicted or not. The Awami League camp may use this as an “election card”, some of them said.

They apprehend the AL may try to bring a ‘faction’ of the BNP to the election, in case the BNP chief is declared ineligible for contesting the polls.

However, the BNP camp is yet to finalise its strategy on how to react if she is convicted. The party will just come up with tough programme in that case, the party leaders said.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury ruled out any impact of Khaleda Zia’s conviction, saying that such a verdict would rather affect the elections, the people’s right to vote, democracy and security of the citizens.

“It (verdict) will decide whether the people will get relief from an undemocratic atmosphere and whether their democratic aspirations will be fulfilled,” he added.

The AL, on the contrary, is trying to assess the possible reaction of the BNP camp in case Khaleda Zia is convicted.

Top leaders of the AL believe the BNP chief and her son will most likely be convicted in the graft cases.

In view of such a situation, the AL will start district-level election campaign and speak on Khaleda cases and late president Ziaur Rahman’s family.

Senior leaders of the BNP are confident, there is no likelihood of Khaleda Zia’s being convicted without high-level interference in the cases.

Even then, the BNP leaders argued, if Khaleda Zia is convicted, it would mean the government wants to hold a one-sided election again keeping the BNP out of the electoral race like that in 2014.

They feel any conviction of Khaleda Zia would be considered as a scheme to stop Khaleda Zia from contesting the polls.

Dwelling on Khaleda case, AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah said none - lawyer, physician or politician - is above law and claimed that her trial is being held in an impartial manner.

Zafarullah also pointed out that even if she is convicted, she would be able to appeal with the higher court. “Various statements are being made simply to divert attention away from the genuine issues,” he said.

In the context of the Khaleda Zia’s cases, a highly placed source in the government said, it is planning to enact a new law to make sure that someone who is convicted even by the lower judicial court cannot contest the elections for the next five years.

“It’s being drafted but a final decision depends on political developments,” the source said.

*The piece, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Nusrat Nowrin.