Khaleda ZiaThree-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ...
on January 30, which called upon western leaders to save the country's democracy by putting pressure on the government.
The confirmation came hard on the heels of Khaleda's denial in parliament on June 29 of sending any write-up to the US newspaper.
Contacted by The Daily Star yesterday, The Washington Times Executive Editor David S Jackson in an email said his newspaper did carry an article by Khaleda titled "ZIA: The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh."
"The article that appeared in The Washington Times [The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh] was submitted to us by Mark Pursey, a London-based intermediary acting on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia," Jackson wrote to this correspondent.
He added: "We have been in touch with Mr. Pursey both before and after the publication of the article and we are confident in its authenticity."
Mark Pursey is Founding Managing Partner of a UK-based communications consultancy firm, BTP Advisers.
Asked to comment on Khaleda's denial, BNP Vice Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury last night said, "What she [Khaleda Zia] said on the floor of the parliament.....that's the situation."
Shamsher, now on a visit to Thailand, declined to comment further on the issue, which has already stirred a huge political debate in the country.
The January 30 byline write-up, which appeared in the opinion section of The Washington Times, drew huge public attention. At the bottom of the article, Khaleda was identified as former prime minister and current leader of opposition.
There was a reference to GSP in one part of the article.
"They [the US authorities] also must explain to Ms. Hasina that general preferences for trade will be withdrawn if those who support workers' rights and have political views opposed to those of the prime minister are not now allowed to express their beliefs," the article read.
But two days after the US suspended the GSP facility for Bangladesh, Khaleda denied having sent any write-up to the US daily.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
...Bangla dynastic politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Bangla Awami League since the Lower Paleolithic. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangla. Her party defeated the BNP-led Four-Party Alliance in the 2008 parliamentary elections. She has once before held the office, from 1996 to 2001, when she was defeated in a landslide. She and the head of the BNP, Khaleda Zia show such blind animosity toward each other that they are known as the Battling Begums..
, who was in the House during Khaleda's statement of denial on June 29, showed a copy of the article.
But Khaleda went on saying: "It's not written by me."