The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Detained former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday refused to be enlisted in the voter list from behind the bars. The deadline for enrolment expired yesterday.

Begum Zia made herself clear when Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui along with Election Commission officials went to the sub jail to pursue her to be registered as a voter.

The detained BNP Chairperson told the delegation that she wants to be a bona-fide voter but not from her prison cell.

Meanwhile, a confusion arose with the comment made yesterday by Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) Mohammad Abdul Matin, Bir Protik, that he did not know anything about the release of Begum Khaleda Zia.

This statement contradicted the remarks of two other advisers made earlier to the effect that the procedure of her release was at the final stage.

When contacted Adviser for Commerce and Education Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told this correspondent last night that he could not give any specific timeframe for the release for former prime minister.

"Let's talk later on the issue," he said.

A lawyer for Begum Khaleda Zia, however, told The New Nation that the BNP Chairperson might be released within a couple of days. "She (Khaleda) was due to get release today (Monday) but unfortunately it was not done," he said and hoped that Begum Zia was likely to be released today or tomorrow.

DIG (Prisons) Maj Siddiqui told reporters that they apprised Begum Zia about the new electoral laws imposing restrictions on aspiring candidates to contest polls without registration in the voter list.

Asked about the release of the former prime minister he said they are yet to receive documents on her release.

Earlier on Monday, the DIG Prisons told reporters that Begum Zia enquired about the new electoral laws from the Election Commission (EC) through him.

He brought necessary documents to her after collecting those from the EC.

As per sub section 'Chha' under Section 13 of the Representation of People (Amendment) Order Ordinance-2008, approved in a meeting of Council of Advisers on Wednesday, a person not registered in the voter list cannot take part in the parliamentary polls.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday told reporters that the EC requested the former prime minister through the authorities concerned to register her name in the voter list by yesterday, the last date for enrolment.

Asked whether Begum Zia would get an opportunity to register her name as a voter if she did not do it by yesterday, the Election Commissioner said, "Time will say that."

Another Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters that there would be no scope for registration in the voter list if anyone were left out of the draft list due to any technical reason.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Election Commissioner of Dhaka Division, Biswas Lutfor Rahman, yesterday told reporters that they provided voters registration forms to jail authorities to register 30 VIP detainees under Dhaka Division.

"The jail authorities will return the filled up forms in time," he said.