Dhaka: BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Thursday said it will not be possible to have their chairperson freed from jail only through a legal battle without a street movement.

‘Our leader (Khaleda) will surely return to us walking out of jail, no matter what tricks the government resort to,’ he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said their party leaders and followers must be there on the streets to ensure their party chief’s release from jail. ‘I won’t think it’ll be possible for us to win this fight only through a legal battle.’

Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, seeking Khaleda’s release from jail.

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, said the lower court is not independent now as the government has established its complete control on it.

He said the country is going through a critical juncture as the government has imposed a ‘dangerous’ rule on people. ‘The entire nation is now in a crisis, not only the nationalist forces.’

The BNP leader said the government has also indirectly established a one-party rule which is worse than that of Baksal introduced by the same party amending the Constitution in 1975.

‘Democracy, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary are now only in paper, not in practice. We’ve now developed an illiberal and intolerant culture and society,’ he observed.

The BNP leader said Awami League has destroyed the spirit of the Liberation War through corruption and plundering money from banks. ‘This party means destroying democracy and annihilating opposition.’

He said those who often talk about the spirit of the Liberation War are plundering thousands of crores of taka and siphoning off those abroad. ‘It’ll continue to grow as much as the election gets nearer since they know they will face a sure defeat if there is a fair election.’

Moudud also criticised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for what he said carrying out ‘unilateral’ election campaign for her party by spending public money.