Dhaka: BNP on Sunday alleged that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed an appeal seeking harsher punishment for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case only to fulfill the Prime Minister’s desire.

‘The ACC has appealed for increasing our chairperson’s punishment as it’s working to fulfill the Prime Minister’s desires,’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also alleged that the current ACC chairman Iqbal Mahmud is working like an obedient son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to satisfy her wishes.

Earlier in the day, the ACC filed an appeal with the High Court seeking harsher punishment for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in which she was earlier sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

On February 8 last, the Dhaka Special Court-5 convicted the BNP chief and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the case. She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city.

Though Khaleda has been kept in jail through a ‘farcical’ trial, Rizvi said she is innocent in people’s court and the court of morality.

He claimed their chairperson has been convicted in a ‘false’ case as per the Prime Minister’s directives. ‘That’s why she (PM) expressed her pleasure after the announcement of the verdict.’

The BNP leader alleged that the government’s opponents and civil society members are being subjected to extreme political vengeance by the government as its misrule turned very dangerous.

He alleged that Dhaka city’s Sabujbagh thana Chhatra Dal leader Sohrab Hossain remained missing since he was reportedly picked up by law enforcers on March 18.

The BNP leader urged the law enforcers to produce him before people immediately and ensure his safe return to his family.