The international media have kept covering BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s conviction and its impact on the next general election in the country.
Most of the international news outlets on Saturday covered the news of naming Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman as the acting chairman of the party with importance.
The Hindu, a prestigious Indian daily, in a news analysis said, ‘It was widely anticipated that Khaleda Zia would participate in the forthcoming election, irrespective of whether her demand for a poll-time caretaker government was met. Now, most observers are certain that without her, the BNP is likely to face a political crisis.”
“It is too early to predict what lies in store for Khaleda Zia. The irony inherent in Bangladesh’s political culture is that corruption charges against political leaders are perceived as victimisation by most supporters, even if the corruption is real. Therefore, Zia may enjoy sympathy when in jail,” it added.
An Indian news agency, The Wire, published a report titled ‘Khaleda Zia Graft Case Verdict Divides Bangladesh Further’.
“..sensing a looming defeat in the upcoming elections, AL has resorted to sending Zia to jail and keep the party away from the polls, so that it can implement the plan of establishing an authoritarian regime, BNP has alleged,” the report said.
An opinion piece of India’s National Herald titled ‘Khaleda Zia conviction: A convenient verdict for Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League’ said, ‘No doubt the verdict against Zia has come as a big blow to the BNP in election year. It’s perhaps the start of the Bangladesh government’s election campaign, rather than a step forward in the fight against corruption.’
It was said in an editorial of The Tribune of India that sentencing of Khaleda and her heir-apparent son on Thursday rules her out for the second successive general election.
The piece with an elated tone titled the editorial: ‘Khaleda sentenced: Democracy poorer by one Begum”.
“Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence on graft charges gives Sheikh Hasina the upper hand and India leverage,” a column of India’s The Pioneer said headlining ‘Battle of Two Begums’.
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