Political crisis to deepen if Khaleda held

The arrest of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia could seriously escalate the ongoing political crisis, says International Crisis Group.

The Brussels-based think-tank made the observation in its monthly bulletin on current and potential conflicts released on Monday, within a week when a Dhaka court issued arrest warrant against the former prime minister in two graft cases.

The arrest warrants were issued on February 25 against Khaleda for skipping court hearings on four consecutive dates in two graft cases -- Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

The Crisis Group in its report said political crisis in Bangladesh continued, "threatening severe destabilisation of [the] country".

At least 81 people were killed and over a thousand injured in violence since the BNP-led alliance declared the countrywide blockade on January 5. Most of the deceased had no links with politics. Besides, 41 people were believed to have been killed in "shootouts" with law enforcement agencies across the country during  this period. Around half of the dead had connections with BNP-Jamaat politics.

"Anti-corruption court on February 25 issued warrant for BNP leader Zia's arrest for non-appearance, raising fears of escalating violence in case warrant [was] executed," it said.

The report mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on February 6 compared actions of the BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami to those of the Islamic State (IS). Several civil society groups, it added, demonstrated for resolution to the crisis, and criticised negative economic impact of the protest.

"Newly-formed committee of prominent jurists, retired officials and other civil society actors also pressed for AL-BNP dialogue," it said. The report also mentioned that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month urged Hasina and BNP leader Khaleda to engage in constructive dialogue.

"Zia remained confined to the BNP office in Dhaka; police on February 11 temporarily blocked food and water supplies.

"Hasina on February 18 promised government action against newspaper for reprinting poster of banned Islamist group Hizb-ut Tahrir," it said.

Earlier on February 9, the group said political crisis was fast approaching the point of no return, and could gravely destabilise the country unless the ruling Awami League and the BNP took practical steps to reduce political tensions.