Khaleda wants to be in prison: PM

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia wants to be in jail to avoid the public wrath following the recent violence and to get coverage in international media and sympathy from foreigners, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament yesterday.

Alleging that Khaleda does not abide by court orders, law, rules and the constitution, Hasina yesterday said the government would take actions as per the directives of the court regarding her not showing up in court.

"If anyone disobeys court order, actions will be taken as per the law … we have to follow the orders of the court," she said replying to a supplementary question from opposition Jatiya Party lawmaker Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu during the PM's question-answer session in parliament.

"We will do whatever needed," Hasina said, adding that by disobeying the court order, Khaleda had disrespected it.

"She [Khaleda] won't abide by the court order and won't appear before the court ... These are tarnishing the image of the court, and as a result none will abide by the court in future, and the country will go in that direction," she added.

About the no-show of the BNP chief in the court yesterday, she said she had heard from Khaleda's lawyers that Khaleda lacked security and that was why she did not go to court.

Hasina said it was most unfortunate that security would have to be given to the person "who is killing people and hurling petrol bombs". She said the trial of these killings would be done as per the law.

She said the BNP chief now thinks that jail is a safe place for her to avoid public wrath generated by "her killing of innocent people and hampering education of 15 lakh SSC examinees".

"She [Khaleda] feels that jail is the safest place for her, and wants to see herself arrested and sent to Nazimuddin Road [where the central jail is located]," Hasina said.

Terming Khaleda a leader of militants, the prime minister said her only job is to kill people through arson, and harm the country's economy and show off militant power.

Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat's ongoing movement had no backing of the people and noted that she had talked to some former MPs of BNP and they informed her that they did not support the destructive activities, including killing and bomb attacks by the BNP-Jamaat.

She said Khaleda also tried her best to cause harm to the readymade garment sector. These incidents tarnish the image of Bangladesh, and that the government had been competently tackling the situation, she added.