DHAKA – Bangladesh Wednesday tightened security amid mounting tensions overan impending corruption trial verdict against ex-prime minister and mainopposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia tomorrow that may disqualify her fromcontesting the next general election slated for December. Elite RapidAction Battalion (RAB) and armed police were called out to guard Dhakastreets while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Awami League said theiractivists would be ready to “assist police” if the BNP tried to foment anyunrest over the verdict.

According to media reports, police in the past several days arrested over1,000 BNP activists, including some senior leaders, suspecting they couldspearhead a violent campaign if Zia is convicted. A Dhaka court is set todeliver the judgement in the trial in which Zia, 72, and five others,including her expatriate elder son Tarique Rahman, stand accused ofembezzling 21 million takas (USD 252,000) in foreign donations meant forthe Zia Orphanage Trust.

The prosecution said the charity, named after Zia’s slain husband –military dictator-turned-president Ziaur Rahman -existed only on paper.Legal experts said Zia, who served as premier for three terms, could facelife imprisonment if found guilty of the charges while a conviction wouldsimultaneously disqualify her from contesting the next general electionslated for December.

Zia, meanwhile, in a press conference ahead of the verdict, blamed thegovernment for unleashing a “reign of terror” ahead of the verdict andclaimed she was implicated in a “false case” but said she was ready to faceany fate.

“I believe the court will acquit me of all charges…It’s a false case and atool to harass me and my family…but if the judgement is delivered toappease the ruling quarters that will create a history of stigma,” shesaid. Her party had boycotted the 2014 polls over its demands for anelection-time non-party government, and became the opposition outsideparliament. But it is expected to contest the upcoming polls.

Political analysts said the BNP might see a political split as severalsenior leaders could disassociate themselves from Zia as her son Rahman,the senior vice president of the party, is seen as wielding authority fromLondon while ignoring party veterans. Rahman is believed to have soughtasylum in Britain to evade justice as he is also being tried on severalcharges, including a 2004 grenade attack on a rally of the then oppositionAwami League that killed 23 people and in which Hasina narrowly escaped.

Zia, in a meeting of the party’s highest policy making national executivecommittee last week, warned of severe consequences against any attempt of“betrayal” saying she would remain with the party whatever the courtverdict.

The main opposition party, which claims the charges are part of a plot tokeep its leader out of the general election, has threatened to take to thestreets if she is convicted.

The ruling Awami League, however, has denied it saying if Zia is notguilty, then it will be proven in court. It has also called on itssupporters to be vigilant if the BNP launches protests. Earlier, Zia hadurged her party supporters to hold “peaceful programmes”. “Please don’t dosomething foolish that can put the party in danger. Remain united,” shesaid last week.

Meanwhile, jail officials said they have taken required measures keeping inmind the impending verdict while Home Minister Asadsuzzaman Khan Kamal saidif convicted Zia would get facilities she deserved in prison. “She is aformer prime minister and if the court hands her down the sentence, shewill be provided with all facilities she deserves,” he said.

The BNP chief, however, called upon the Awami League to hold the nextgeneral election in a free, fair and peaceful manner through talks whileshunning “the path of threat and repression” and asked party activists towage a “peaceful” campaign for credible elections. Awami League leader androad transport minister Obaidul Quader said the past military-backedinterim government had filed the case against Zia in 2008 with the presentgovernment having no link to the process.

He alleged that Zia did her best to upset the trial but failed. Theex-premier on November 30, 2014 lost her last ditch effort to evade thegraft trial as the Supreme Court turned down her second ‘leave to appeal’petition challenging her indictment and asked her to face trial in thelower court. The high court earlier validated the trial in the lower courtwhich on March 19, 2014 had indicted Zia on two graft charges brought bythe Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The ACC alleged that the two charities, the other being the Zia CharitableTrust, existed only on paper and a huge amount of money was misappropriatedin the name of the two organisations while Zia was premier during the BNP’s2001-2006 government. Zia and three of her aides in particular were accusedof syphoning off 31.5 million takas (USD 400,000) from the Zia CharitableTrust alone while she is also accused of leading a group of five people,including her eldest son, in embezzling another 21.5 million takas (USD277,000) in funds meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust.