M.A Qader-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Bangladesh
Dhaka, 09 May (Asiantribune.com): Main opposition BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Friday said the government sent the second notice to party chief Khaleda Zia on Thursday last regarding her house only to tarnish her image.
In Thursday's notice, Khaleda was asked to show cause as to why she should not be asked to return the estate, including the house, within the next 15 days. However, BNP did not disclose receiving of notice till midnight. The BNP secretary general said the matter would be resolved in court.
"It was needless to send the notice again as the matter is pending with the High Court," he said talking to reporters at his home in the city's Armanitola adding will give the reply of second notice as per law since his party chief Khaleda respects the law of the land.
He said the fresh notice is nothing but persecution of the party chairperson.
Delwar said they think the notice was sent for the second time to harass her politically. The chairperson already consulted senior leaders of the party after receiving the notice served by the Directorate of Military Lands and Cantonments, he said.
Military lands and cantonments directorate served Khaleda the notice on April 20 asking her to vacate her cantonment house within 15 days. Tuesday was the deadline to leave the house but Khaleda is not obligated to do so pending appeal.
The cabinet on April 8 cancelled the lease on the house on grounds that the leasing process had been faulty and she violated lease terms.
The cabinet which cancelled the lease on Khaleda's cantonment house also said that it was not legal to allocate one person the lease of two houses simultaneously.
Three days later Khaleda responded with a legal notice of her own on the government, asking it to withdraw the notice by Tuesday.
The legal notice sent by Khaleda's lawyers said that then the president had allotted Khaleda the house on a yearly rent basis after the assassination of army chief-turned-president Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981.
The house was registered on July 13, 1981 and Khaleda along with her family members had been residing at this house for over 27 years, said the notice.
Therefore, it was illegal in the eye of law to be asked to vacate the house by serving a notice, it said.
The notice also said that Khaleda would take further legal steps unless the government notice was withdrawn.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina earlier requested the opposition chief in parliament to leave the house for building flats for the army officers slain in the February 25-26 BDR mutiny.
-Asian Tribune-
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