The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday neither free and fair election nor smooth transition to democracy would be possible keeping two senior leaders of the two major political parties, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in prison.

"The BNP and the Awami League are the two largest political parties of the country. I don't understand how a free and fair election will be held and smooth transition to democracy will take place keeping senior leaders of these two parties, including the chiefs-Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina-behind the bar," he told journalists at his NAM Building apartment

Protesting filing corruption case against Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Jubaida Rahman and his mother-in-law Iqbalmand Banu on Wednesday, Khandaker Delwar alleged cases were being lodged one after another under a design to prevent all members of the Zia family from taking part in the coming elections. "All members of the late President Ziaur Rahman were arrested under a blueprint to prevent so that they cannot take part in the upcoming elections," he said, asserting the people are very much suspicious of this move.

The BNP Secretary General said anybody could contest the elections from the jail in the past But the system has been changed now.

"Cases are filed one after another against the Zia family invoking the emergency rules to harass them," he observed.

Referring to the case against Tarique Rahman's wife and mother-in-law, he said it was illogical to accuse and prosecute them for the purported offence of Tarique Rahman.

"How come one could sensibly consider that someone will inform his wife and mother-in-law or any member of his family after commiting a crime?" he posed the question.

Khandaker Delwar said it would be inhuman to take into custody all but a minor girl, the daughter of Tarique Rahman.

"Who will take care of the minor girl (daughter of Tarique) if all of them arrested?" he posed a pertinent question. The BNP Secretary General urged the government to withdraw the cases against Tarique's wife and mother-in-law on humanitarian ground.