Ambiguity over Khaleda’s political career

Staff Reporter :
An ambiguity is prevailing in the circle of the ruling party ministers and leaders about the political space for the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia whether she can do politics or not even though she is a convict.
When the Agriculture Minister, the Law Minister and the Home Minister are echoing that she can do politics, but she cannot avail the scope for contesting election.
But the Information and Broadcasting Minister opposed the statements of his colleagues, saying Khaleda Zia cannot do politics and vie for election in accordance with the terms and conditions of her release on parole.
Law Minister Anisul Haque has said that there has been no international pressure on the government regarding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s participation in politics.
“Khaleda Zia was released from prison on two conditions that she will receive treatment staying at her residence and will refrain from travelling abroad,” the Minister said while responding to a question from journalists at the end of a seminar on the Rohinga crisis organised in Dhaka on Thursday.
“There was no such condition in the release application mentioning she will not be able to do politics,” Anisul Haque said, adding that the government is not bothered if Khaleda Zia is participating in politics or not.
The minister also said, “Not even a word of the Constitution will be defied while holding the national elections. The government wants an inclusive election with the participation of all parties. However, it’s up to the parties if they want to take part or not.”
“Khaleda Zia has been conditionally allowed to live in a house outside the prison considering her physical condition and age. According to those conditions, she cannot do politics. As per the conditions, she will receive treatment at home and cannot do anything else. So, it is not possible for her to do politics at all,” Dr. Hasan Mahmud made this comment in response to a question from journalists after the unveiling of a book in the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Secretariat on Thursday noon.
According to the law of Bangladesh, if someone is punished for more than two years, he or she cannot vote, he said adding that Khaleda Zia has been sentenced for more than two years and there is no question of her to take part in the polls.
Hasan Mahmud said, “If someone says, they can say. But as far as I know and understand she can’t do politics. As I know the law and I have already inquired about it as accordance to the conditions, Khaleda Zia can only receive treatment, but she is not supposed to be able to do politics.”
Earlier on February 19 and 22, the Law Minister and Agriculture Minister in separate programmes said that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can take part in politics, but she is barred from contesting in the next general election because of her conviction for corruption.
The government will not interfere in her doing politics, the minister said adding “Whether she will do politics or not, it is her personal matter.”
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in response said the BNP and Begum Zia will decide about her next election participation and politics, not the government.
“AL cannot decide whether or not Khaleda can do politics. The ruling party’s statements on Khaleda being barred from contesting in the next election are not lawful as she has every right to do so,” Fakhrul added.
Replying to if Khaleda Zia will participate in the ongoing political movement, Mirza Fakhrul said, it will depend on her health condition and the party’s consensus.