Khaleda's remarks about ex-CJ ill-motivated: Matia
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday termed the recent remarks of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia about immediate-past chief justice ABM Khairul Haque highly “unfair and ill-motivated”.
“This is just highly unfair and ill-motivated,” she told a briefing at her residence.
Matia, also the presidium member of the ruling Awami League, said the opposition leader should look at herself first before making any derogatory remarks about judges.
During the caretaker regime, Matia said, Khaleda legalised her undisclosed money by paying fines.
Khaleda, talking to reporters at an Eid reception at Eskaton Ladies Club on Eid day (Wednesday), accused Khairul of annulling the caretaker government system “in exchange for money”.
"Khairul Haque destroyed the judiciary and it's now crystal clear that he gave the verdict in exchange for money,” alleged Khaleda.
The 15th amendment has been adopted only to make sure the present government stays in power forever, she mentioned adding, no election would be allowed without reinstating the caretaker government system to the constitution.
Matia said the opposition leader is a “self-confessed corrupt person” and her sons were already declared as corrupts abroad. “Such comments (about Khairul) by her are unbecoming,” she said.
On the Supreme Court verdict, she said the verdict on 5th amendment to the constitution came after a long hearing from a full bench, not from a one-man bench.
In this regard, Matia said the main verdict on the 5th amendment was pronounced during the BNP-Jamaat regime on August 29, 2005. “Why didn't you go for appeal at that time?” she asked.
Based on the verdict on the 5th amendment, the government later brought the 15th amendment to the constitution where proclamation of martial law has been declared illegal, Matia said.
“That's her pain, she (Khaleda) was dreaming of martial law. I'm sorry to say, her dream is just a daydream,” Matia said.
Asked whether there is any government move to file any case against Khaleda for her comments on the judiciary, Matia said, “It's the matter of the judiciary, not ours.”
Replying to a query, she said people will judge why the opposition leader suddenly came up with such remarks on the judiciary after her return from Saudi Arabia.
“These days, people are too much conscious, they'll judge. But this type of remark at this time when the nation is preparing for the trial of war criminals will create a confusion in public minds,” she said.
About Khaleda's declaration not to go for election without caretaker government system, she said, “The future will answer the question.”
Matia also urged the opposition leader to come out from the “psychic mentality” and practice fair politics for the welfare of the people and the country.
When her attention was drawn to other issues like rundown roads and highways, Matia admitted that the government might not have given enough attention to the repair works due to some other big issues.
“But there's no lack in our sincerity and sensitivity. That's why when our attention was drawn, we just started to act,” she said.
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