Khaleda Zia's sentence was a political stunt to remove her from the election: US

The trial and sentencing of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, convicted on corruption charges, was a political stunt to remove her from the electoral process, the United States said.

This information came up in the global human rights report of the United States Department of State on Monday (March, 21). US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken released the report on Monday night.

The report states that there was a lack of sufficient evidence to convict BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

The United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor published this report. The report published under the title of '2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' regarding the human rights situation of different countries. In this report of the section of Bangladesh it is said that extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh have decreased dramatically in 2022 compared to 2021.

The report highlighted the involvement of security forces in torture and persecution in Bangladesh. Corruption is still cited as a major problem in this country. The report includes examples of various cases in the section of digital security law.

In the report, the United States highlighted several facts including disappearances of people, extrajudicial killings, government-initiated torture-cruelty, political prisoners, and obstruction of freedom of expression through internet. 

However, the report also mentions that the government has taken several steps in identifying, investigating, prosecuting and punishing officials or members of the security forces involved in human rights violations or corruption.

Bangladesh's constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government with most power vested in the prime minister, the report said. In the December 2018 election, Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party won election for third consecutive time in a five-year term. The election was not considered free and fair due to irregularities, ballot box stuffing and intimidation to opposition polling agents and voters.

It is mentioned in the report that media critics of the government and Awami League have faced harassment. According to the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States, advertisements have been cut in media for providing criticism of the government and Awami League. For this reason, many media have voluntarily avoided criticizing the government.