Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia will certainly be punished in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case if the court is convinced with proper evidence and documents.

‘If the court has the evidence, she (Khaleda) must be punished,’ she said while speaking at a reception accorded to her by German chapter of Awami League at Marriott Hotel, reports UNB.

Criticising BNP’s threat not to allow holding the election if Khaleda Zia is punished in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, the Prime Minister said, ‘They (BNP) won’t allow the election just to save a thief. What type of attitude is this?’

She also questioned, ‘Why the BNP leader is afraid of facing the court if she had not been involved in any corruption. She has repeatedly been seeking time. In one case, she has filed petitions for some 53/54 times. What’s the reason behind escaping the court?’

She went on to answer: ‘This is clear that she (Khaleda) embezzled the orphanage money.’

Hasina also said the mass people rejected the destructive politics of BNP it unleashed to foil the January-5 election in 2014 and alleged that Khaleda Zia has always been doing the negative, even in politics.

About the newly formed Election Commission, she said one election commissioner was drawn from the list of Awami League while and one from BNP list. ‘But, BNP isn’t happy now. They always show a negative attitude.’

About her participation in the Munich Security Conference, the Prime Minister said she is focusing on overall security matters, including security of the people, food, water, climate and other related issues.

She pointed out the issue of terrorism and militancy, saying this is a new version of the security threat for the world.

She reiterated her government’s firm stance on not to tolerate any terrorist activities in Bangladesh, saying it will do whatever is necessary to contain this social menace.

Hasina said her government has been taking the country towards development and prosperity facing all hurdles and it is working to ensure people’s security.

She also urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to work hard so that Bangladesh’s is brightened further abroad.

Leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies from across the Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Finland, were present at the reception.