| Koko's punishment not pleasant for politicians: Awami League Posted: 28 Jun 2011 09:18 AM PDT 
Discussion can break deadlock: AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam June 24,2011 General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League and Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Syed Ashraful Islam today urged the party leaders and workers not to be elated at the court verdict against Begum Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in a money laundering case. "There is nothing to be excited over this court order as it's not pleasant for Begum Zia and other political leaders. Moreover, it has tarnished the image of the politicians," he said. "All of us will have to face the same situation after spending our whole life in politics if we cannot groom up our children properly," he cautioned. Syed Ashraf made the remark at a press conference at Dhanmondi office of the party president here this afternoon. The press conference was apparently called to reply the BNP's allegation that the incumbent Awami League government has a role in the court order against Koko. Awami League general secretary said, "There is nothing to hide and seek with the court order. Begum Zia must realize that truth. She must realize that how son of a former President and Prime Minister were involved with international crimes". Syed Ashraf said the punishment of Koko in the money laundering case is an outcome of the failure of the politicians."We the politicians, who have children, are not happy with the punishment," he said. He brushed aside the allegation of BNP leaders that the Prime Minister and Awami League interfered with this court order and said, "If I had any minimum scope to influence the court, I would never allow pronouncing the order on the founding anniversary day of the Awami League". Awami League believes in the rule of law, and never tries to interfere with the functions of the judiciary; he said adding if anybody feels aggrieved with the lower court order, he/she can go to the higher court. But, the way they attacked the Prime Minister for the court order, is absolutely against the norms of the rule of law. Asharful Islam also said it was the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of USA, not Bangladesh government, which detected money laundering by Koko. Koko took bribe in exchange for awarding a work order of Teletalk to Siemens during the period of BNP-Jamaat alliance government, and a US court already fined Siemens for this offense, Ashraf said adding, "Perfume cannot vanish the bad smell of corruption". Country's politicians would be benefited if Koko is not found guilty in the higher court, added. |
0 comments:
Post a Comment