Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday claimed that the judiciary is now more controlled even after its separation from the executive due to the government’s interference.

‘The judiciary has been separated, but it hasn’t become independent.  The independence of the judiciary has been snatched. In fact, it’s now more controlled,’ she said.

Speaking at an iftar party, the BNP chief also alleged that there are now two forms of trial in the country for lack of the rule of law.

Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya, a pro-BNP lawyers’ forum, arranged the iftar party at Supreme Court auditorium.

‘From the Supreme Court premises, I want to say there’s no rule of law. The law is not equal for all. We see the trial is not the same for the ruling party men and the opposition and common people. It can’t be allowed to continue,’ Khaleda told the lawyers.

Mentioning that the real criminals should get punished through law, she said now ruling party men are not arrested and get punished even after committing serious crimes, while the opposition men are sent to jail and punished for committing no crime.

Claiming that there is no BNP leader and activist who do not face any political case, she questioned, ‘Whether all the BNP men have become criminals and all the Awami League men become virtuous. Those who once had killed and made disappeared 20,000-30,000 people have now become very good men.’

She alleged that BNP leaders and activists are being implicated in ‘false’ cases in bus torching and subversive acts. ‘We want to say BNP doesn’t believe in the politics of bus torching and violence. The charges brought against our leaders and activists are not correct.’

Khaleda alleged that the government has re-empowered parliament to remove judges through the 16^th amendment to the Constitution to establish its control over the judiciary. ‘Now there’s no justice as the judges are controlled.’

Referring to attacks on her motorcade allegedly by the ruling party men during the city polls, the former Prime Minister said though the newspapers published the photos of those vandalised her vehicle and spayed bullet on it, no action was taken against anybody in this regard. ‘So, why is BNP blamed for terrorism and damaging vehicles?’

Khaleda said there is no alternative to holding free, fair and credible polls for restoring peace, democracy, the rule of law and stopping killings and enforced disappearances.

Senior lawyers, including TH Khan, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, AJ Mohhamad Ali, Shajahan Omar, Joynul Abedin and Mir Nasir were, among others, present.