Detained former premier and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina has demanded general elections on schedule despite her fears of being barred from taking part due to a "cooked up" extortion case.The "concocted" Tk 3 crore extortion case was filed against her to undermine Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family, she said in an emotion-choked voice.
She said this yesterday during a meeting with her counsels after the Court of the Sessions Judge fixed next Sunday for charge framing of the case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury on June 13 last year. "They want to make me disqualified from taking part in the general elections. And all the arrangements have been made in this regard. Even if I were barred from contesting the elections, let it be held in time," said an ailing Hasina. "The verdict has already been prepared to be delivered. And it was designed as far as it's possible to undermine the family of the father of the nation," added Hasina who appeared before the court with a feeble look yesterday morning.
"I've been given a condition that I have to accept the verdict, which means they know what would be the verdict in the end. Insisting that much on a issue that I cannot talk against the verdict only means the verdict is designed," said Hasina standing on the dock beside her cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, another accused in the case. "Obviously, I would not go abroad on any condition imposed," she said. "I want justice from the people of Bangladesh," Hasina uttered her last words before she was taken to the sub-jail.