It would be an insult to Ziaur Rahman if BNP compromises on Khaleda’s freedom

Lt. Gen. (retd.) Mahbubur Rahman speaks to DOT : 
If the main opposition party Bangladesh National Party (BNP) negotiates with the ruling party for the sake of bailing their chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from charges, it will be an insult to Ziaur Rahman.
Instead of bargaining with the government, BNP should follow strategies of ethics to bail Begum Khaleda Zia because there is no compromise in democracy and human rights – there can never be any compromise in these. Even then, if the party still believes the charges against Begum Khalda Zia are deceitful, they can consider negotiation.
Personally, I do not believe in the notion of compromising. Moreover, we should stake ethical questions on the ruling party, and get the answer by ripping it out from them. Thus protests will be just as fair for the bail of the chairperson as legal battles. Moreover, BNP has the right to appeal at United Nations and international human rights associations. But I do not want any part in freeing Khaleda Zia through compromise. My whole life I have been on the side of justice. Compromises can be made with injustices, but never with truth and justice – this is the strength of my belief. If BNP wins through ethics and the law it will be their good fortune; otherwise it’s just bad luck.
If BNP comes to negotiation instead of arguing their logic, it will be a great humiliation for them and their founder Zia-Ur-Rahman. I’ve raised these questions from a point of belief, not from any political angle. After all, success is on the side of justice. Law should remain in its place, not negotiations.
Lt. Gen. (retd.) Mahbubur Rahman is a member of BNP’s Standing Committee
Interview by Leon Mir
Translated by Abrar Hussain