Dhaka, Nov 14 (Just News): BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Wednesday told a court that a level-playing field cannot be ensured for all political parties in the upcoming general election keeping her and her party leaders in jail.
"While everyone is busy with the election, we've been confined to the court. We're made to conduct our election activities amid numerous obstacles," she said during the charge-framing hearing against her in the Niko case in the Dhaka Special Judge Court-9.
"This can't happen that one party will participate in the election keeping me in jail and my party leaders and activists in court," the BNP chief said, demanding that all parties are given equal facilities for conducting electioneering.
She also urged the court to stay the trial proceedings of the case until the election ends.
Khaleda Zia said the trial in the case should not continue inside the Old Central Jail as it lacks adequate air and light. "The Constitution safeguards people's basic rights but the court has no atmosphere for holding a public trial. How the justice will be established?"
Meanwhile, the court fixed January 3 for hearing the charge-framing against the BNP chairperson and others in the Niko case.
Dhaka Special Judge Court- 9 Judge Mahmudul Hasan fixed the date after Khaleda Zia’s lawyers filed a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing.
Khaleda Zia was brought to the court in a wheelchair during the hearing.
On November 7, the Law Ministry issued a gazette notification saying that the trial of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other accused in the Niko case will be held at the makeshift court in Old Dhaka Central Jail.
Khaleda Zia has been in jail at Nazimuddin Road since she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust case on February 8 last.
