“People only get charmed with it (threat for movement). There’s no point of issuing such threat as we’ve been seeing BNP is working out its strategy for a movement over the last 10 years,” he said.
Mahmud, also the publicity and publication affairs secretary of Awami League, came up with the remarks while speaking at the biennial council of Dhaka north city unit Awami Muktijoddha Projornma League at Bangabandhu avenue in the capital.
BNP leaders at different programmes recently accused the ruling party leaders of staging a drama by making various remarks on Khaleda Zia’s release on parole. They also threatened to launch a strong movement to have her freed from jail.
Trashing BNP’s allegation, the minister said it is BNP, not the government, is doing politics over Khaleda’s treatment and health issue.
“Khaleda Zia has long been suffering from pain in her knees and back. Even, she discharged the duty of the Prime Minister twice with that pain. BNP leaders are now making Khaleda Zia a person of mockery by holding press conferences regularly over the issue,” he observed.
Mahmud also turned down BNP’s allegation that the government is trying to forcibly give Khaleda parole, saying there is no scope to release any prisoner on parole without any application. “I urge the BNP leaders to read the laws and rules.”