Mahbub for taking to streets to free Khaleda

BNP vice-chairman Khandker Mahbub Hossain on Friday urged their party leaders and activists to heat up the streets to have their chairperson Khaleda Zia freed from jail, reports UNB.

"It would be very tough to free Khaleda Zia through a normal legal process as the government has destroyed all the institutions, including the judiciary. I personally don't believe we'll be able to have her released from jail depending on the rule of law," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, "The only way to free her is to heat up the street. Until we do it, we won't be able to have Khaleda Zia released from jail. So, let's get united and wage a movement to free her."

Nagorik Odhikar Andolon Forum arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the release of all political prisoners, including Khaleda Zia.

Khaleda has been in jail since 8 February last year as she was convicted in two graft cases.

Mahbub, also one of the counsels of Khaleda, said the BNP chairperson was arrested out of government's political vengeance with a political motive. "So, it is not possible to have her freed without the government's goodwill."

He called upon the leaders of BNP and the Jatiya Oikya Front to launch a movement on a single issue of Khaleda's release.

Mahbub also questioned the justification of BNP's decision to join the 11th parliamentary elections keeping Khaleda in jail.

"We took part in the election depending on democracy-loving people without freeing Khaleda Zia. History will judge and our leaders will have to say one day whether it was a justified decision to join that election," Mahbub said.