BNP to meet Saturday evening to plan further course of action

BNP Standing Committee members are set to formally meet on Saturday evening to plan their next course of actions after a Dhaka special court sentenced the party’s chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. “The leaders will discuss the country's overall situation with party chairperson's advisers, vice chairmen and joint secretary generals and work out their next course of action around 6:30pm at BNP chairperson's Gulshan office,” said Khaleda's Media Wing Official Shairul Kabir Khan. He also stated that progress on Khaleda’s bail plea in High Court will be discussed in the meeting. A BNP Standing Committee member, wishing to be anonymous, said: “BNP is unlikely to take any imprudent or violent programs as it will only invite danger for the party and ruin its reputation ahead of the next general election slated for December.” On Thursday, the court convicted Khaleda and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Five other accused in the case, including her son and current acting chairman Tarique Rahman, were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk2.1 crore each.