The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Detained former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday called for equal application of law and creating an environment to ensure all party's participation in the elections.

Talking to her lawyers in a special court where she came to attend Niko scam case, Khaleda also called for immediate lifting of the state of emergency to create an enabling atmosphere for the polls.

About BNP's participation in the dialogue with the government, she said an atmosphere for dialogue must be created and "then time will say whether or not we will join it."

The former Prime Minister again said her two sons are very sick and they should be sent abroad for their proper treatment. She asked the government to stop arresting BNP leaders and workers in the name of anti-terror crackdown,

saying that she is not opposed to the genuine anti-terror drive as, while in power, she also had taken strong action against terrorists.

About 20 percent dearness allowance proposed in the new budget for government employees to cope with price-hike, she questioned what would happen to other people in society facing the same price-hike problem.

Begum Zia suggested practical steps to contain the price-spiral of essentials and to provide subsidy for agriculture inputs including fertilizer to save the peasants.

Earlier, the special court of judge Khandaker Kamal Uzzaman heard legal debates on the necessity of holding trial of the same Niko case against Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia in two separate courts.

The judge will give his decision on June 18.