Staff Reporter :The BNP on Sunday alleged that a deep-rooted conspiracy is going on to declare BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and several other senior leaders of the party disqualified for the general elections. BNP’s current spokesperson and the party’s International Affairs Secretary Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon made the allegation at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the city. The allegation came amidst statement of the ruling party leaders and ministers of the government about Khaleda Zia.The BNP spokesperson alleged that the government involved Khaleda Zia and other senior leaders in false and fabricated cases with a view to implementing the blueprint to keep them out of the general elections. “The government will face dire consequence if it moves to implement such blueprint,” he warned. Ripon came down heavily on Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu for his comment that ‘Khaleda Zia will not get the chance to take part in the next general election in 2019.’ Inu made the comment in the Parliament on Saturday. “We protest the raving speech of Hasanul Haq Inu. He is delivering such statement in a bid to be a good sycophant of Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League,” said Dr Ripon. The BNP leader protested such statement of the other leaders of the ruling party. AL senior leader and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Sunday also told the Parliament that Khaleda Zia can’t escape trial. Claiming that Khaleda Zia is facing charges on different case unjustly, Ripon said that it wouldn’t be justice if the court gives verdict against the BNP chief being influenced by the government. The people won’t accept any verdict against Khaleda Zia, he said. He also claimed that the Zia Orphanage Trust and the Zia Charitable Trust graft cases were filed against Khaleda Zia with ill-motive. Not Khaleda Zia and the BNP leaders, the ruling party leaders and ministers of the government are involved in corruption and looting. But cases are not being filed against them, he said. The BNP spokesperson criticised the government for the construction work inside the 400-year old ancient Lalbagh Fort’s compound, distorting the original design of the historic structure. He also opposed the government’s move for coal based power project in the Sudarbans, the largest Mangrove Forest of the world. The project will destroy the environment and biodiversity. So it has to be stopped, he said.
