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Khaleda wants her sons to be sent abroad

Says she wishes to stay home

Staff Correspondent
Reiterating her wish to stay in the country, detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday asked the government to send her two detained sons abroad for treatment without delay.
Speaking to reporters after hearing proceedings in Niko graft case, she said, T have told you before that I'm not going anywhere. I have been in the country and will continue to
be here. The condition of my sons however is very bad, and I ask the government to send them abroad without wasting time.”
Khaleda, also former prime minister, was produced before the Special Court-9 on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises at 10:10am amid tight security.
She said, "The government must create an atmosphere of trust to ensure that all political parties
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participate in the election. And for that, the state of emergency will have to be withdrawn."
Criticising the military-backed administration's ongoing anticrime drive, she said, "Leaders and workers of the political parties are being harassed in the name of curbing crimes. They cannot stay, in theirhousesdueto thedrive."
She demanded that the government stop the harassment' immediately and release all political leaders.
"We have no objection to arrests of criminals, but rounding up political activists will definitely hamper the process of creating an environment conducive to holding a free and fair election," she observed.
About the ongoing dialogue between the military-backed government and political parties, KTialeda said, "First, let there be a congenial atmosphere for talks pnd only then will we say whether or not to join the dialogue.”
The BNP chief said the hike in fertiliser prices would affect the farmers badly. She also called for subsidies in agriculture and measures to ensure that essentials including rice and pulses are within buying capacity of the common people.
Referring to about 20 percent dearness allowance proposed in the budget for the government employees to cope with the price spiral, she asked what would hap pen to the other people facing similar problems.
"How many people are public servants? Wliat about the rest? lake immediate steps for them as well," she continued.
Queried about the government's concern over her health, she replied,
"If they are that worried then why they are still detaining me?”
Earlier, Judge Khandaker Kamal Uz-zaman fixed June 18 for passing order on whether the trial should commence when there is already one going on in a case against Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina on similar charges.
The defence said the trial should not begin before the end of proceedings of the Niko graft case against Hasina since both die cases involve the same story, seizure list and evidence.
They said the BNP-led four-party alliance government only followed what had been initiated during the tenure of the immediate past ALgovernment.
The prosecution said the postponement or adjournment of the trial proceedings is an absurd idea. They said the plaintiff and accused, time and place of occurrence in the cases are separate and that is why there arc no grounds for postponement or adjournment.
Later, talking to the reporters, BNP Secretary General Khandakei Delwar Hossain quoted Khaleda as saying that the law should be the same for all and the government would have to shoulder the respon -sibility if Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko die for lack of proper treatment
Eight other accused including former law minister Moudud Ahmed were also produced before the court yesterday.
On December 9 last year, the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station against Khaleda and 10 others on charges of abuse ol power in awarding a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko.