GATCO-NIKO cases adjourned till June 16

Confined BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Tuesday heavily came down upon the Caretaker Government for announcing the national budget and proposing to impose tax as being unauthorised to do so.(The Bangladesh Today)

Speaking to the lawyers at the Special Court after hearing on the GATCO scam case, she said only the Parliament has the authority to approve a budget and impose tax but as the budget made by the Caretaker Government is not approved by the Parliament, it is anti-people and illegal.

She called for withdrawing the state of emergency immediately and holding free, fair and all parties' participation-based general election to hand over the state power to an elected and democratic government. Then she expressed her concern about price hike.

Khaleda laughed at the process of Sheikh Hasina's release upon the instruction of the government saying that if such release order is made lawfully then everybody is equal in the eye of law.

Replying to a question of the reporters about rejection of bail of Tarique Rahman, she alleged that although her two sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman are very sick, they are deprived of better treatment.

She said the law should be applied equally to everybody and as her two sons are sicker than Sheikh Hasina, the government should send them abroad for better treatment. She said, "They are being given no treatment at all here…..no treatment."

During hearing of the GATCO case, all accused including Khaleda Zia, Arafat Rahman, Motiur Rahman Nizami, Mannan Bhuiyan and MK Anwar were produced before the Special Court where Arafat Rahman was brought in a wheel chair due to his critical health condition and he was shaking and thus after five minutes he was carried out of the Court again.

The defence counsels submitted an application praying for court's order with regard to better treatment of Arafat Rahman abroad and another application for adjournment of hearing on charge framing for two weeks on the ground of Arafat's illness. But the Public Prosecutors opposed adjournment for long days which is not covered by the EPR. At that stage, the Court adjourned the hearing till June 16.

On the other hand, another Special Court adjourned the NIKO scam case against Awami League President Sheikh Hasina till June 16 and Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas represented her. The charge framing hearing could not be held as the defence counsels prayed for time as they did not get and inspect all documents of the case.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Khandoker Delwar Hossain on Tuesday blasted the government for dual policy of sending Sheikh Hasina abroad for treatment and depriving Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Coco of the same opportunity.

Delwar asked, " If Sheikh Hasina can be released upon the exuctive order of the government, why will Khaleda and her two sons not get the opportunity? If the government wants to hold a free, fair election, there is no alternative to release Khaleda immediately."

"We want the release of both Khaleda and Hasina, but we will not accept any drama in this regard. The government itself formed medical boards to examine the health condition of Hasina and Coco, but now the government is not taking steps as per the recommendations of these medical boards." said Delwar.

About illness of Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman, he alleged that when they went to jail they were physically well but now they are so sick that they have to come to the court by wheelchair as a result of torture during their detention.

Delwar said, "BNP is such a political party which believes in an election participated by all political parties. We want such an election where all the people will cast their votes. The government will have to dispel any confusion regarding election."

Referring to the recent comment made by Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman that the ongoing dialogue is not for holding the election, Delwar said, " if the ongoing government sponsored dialogue is not for election then what is it for?"