Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Maqbul Ahmad has issued the following statement on 5th September 2018 expressing deep concern as the trial began against BNP Chairperson, 20 party alliance leader and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in a room in Administrative Building of old Dhaka central jail as a court for holding trial of one particular case.
I am expressing deep concern as the trial began against BNP Chairperson, 20 party alliance leader and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in a room in Administrative Building of old Dhaka central jail as a court for holding trial of Zia orphanage trust graft case. Such an initiative of the government is unlawful, unjustified, unprecedented and completely against the human rights.
Instead of an open trial, the government has set up a court inside the old jail which is similar to a camera trial. This step of the government also goes against the constitution. No political leader can be tried in a court within a jail. It is a clear violation of the constitution. According to article 35 (3) of the Bangladesh constitution, this trial must be taken place in an open court. There is no chance of holding a camera trial.
The government has kept Begum Khaleda Zia behind the bar for so many days. They have deprived her from the privilege of getting due treatment. Her physical condition is deteriorating alarmingly. The government is not allowing her to get proper treatment and as such they have deprived her from due citizen rights.
I am urging the concerned authorities to stop the farce in the name of conducting trial inside a jail and to release Begum Khaleda Zia immediately.”
