former PM

Dhaka, July 18 (UNI) Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia demanded immediate release of her arch political rival, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, if there is any legal scope for dealing with her case by setting her free.

She said in a press statement,''it's my perception that it would have been better to complete the prosecution process by not arresting Sheikh Hasina and not opposing her bail petition by the government side.

Although Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina ruled the country as the Prime Minister since 1991 by rotation they are not even in talking terms for more than 16 years reflecting the bitter political rivalry in Bangladesh's power politics.

''It would have reduced to a mutual distrust and doubt as well as social tensions and political unrest,'' added the immediate-past Prime Minister in her observations about the predicament of Hasina, also an ex-premier.

Hasina was arrested on July 16 in an extortion case by a private company. She was put in a makeshift jail in the parliament building complex.

Both Hasina and Khaleda today received notices from the Anti-Corruption Commission directing them to submit account of their wealth within a week, as a part of the drive launched by the military-backed interim regime under the current state of emergency against corruption in high places.

President Iajuddin Ahmed promulgated the state of emergency on January 11 in the wake of terrible political turmoil that forced the government to postpone the January 22 parliamentary elections for an indefinite period.

Khaleda said that, though unwarranted, the reasons for which the state of emergency was inevitable, peace-loving people in no way want the recurrence of such disturbance and chaos. At the same time, she noted, a prolonged state of emergency would not be good for the nation. ''We will have to move forward towards a sustainable democracy by ensuring stability at this critical juncture of the nation,'' she said.

''For that it is necessary to establish national consensus and understanding by shunning malice and divisions. Today, I feel that opportunity and prospect have been created to a great extent. To achieve this, all will have to show wisdom, farsightedness and tolerance.'' MORE UNI