Bangladesh Prime Minister and ruling Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina said that the national election will be held in time, later this year, with or without the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). “We cannot do anything if the BNP doesn’t participate in the election,” she remarked.
Responding to questions from the media about the conviction in graft case of Khaleda Zia, she explained the corruption case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and court proceedings continued for 10 years. She claimed that her administration had nothing to do with the case.
Ms. Zia’s lawyers obtained a certified copy of the judgment on Monday and are preparing for an appeal within days.
Ms. Hasina also questioned the rationale behind assigning leadership of the BNP to Ms. Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, himself a convict who has been jailed in similar corruption cases.
Rohingya’s repatriation
Also expressing dismay over slow process in starting the much sought-after repatriation of Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees, Ms. Hasina alleged that Myanmar is “dithering” over Rohingya repatriation.
She remarked that Bangladesh would watch the behaviour of Myanmar after the return of around 8,000 people whose list was handed over to begin the first phase of repatriation.
She said that Bangladesh has given refuge to hundreds of thousands of Myanmar nationals who fled their homes. But the arrangement is “temporary”.
An advisory panel led by Kofi Annan has called on Myanmar to grant the Rohingya citizenship and allow them to return.
