Khaleda was brought to the court premises in a wheelchair during the hearing at the old central jail. She said the government did not want the BNP to context the next parliamentary poll.

The government has been filing one case after another against BNP leaders and activists, she said, adding that they are being locked up in jail through courts after the filing of the cases.

“Make it clear whether you (the government) will allow the BNP go to the election or say that you don't want us to take part in the poll’,” Khaleda said.

The BNP chief told the court that the current lopsided situation in the political arena was unacceptable.

Taking part in the hearing, the BNP chairperson said: “Why are the trials in my cases moving so fast? How many cases have been disposed of under speedy trials? Is the Narayanganj seven-murder case having a speedy trial? Everything is being done under to serve political motives.”

Khaleda requested the court to fix a date for framing charges against her and others in the Niko graft case after the national polls. “Our leaders and activists will be busy with the upcoming national election. So, they will not be able to appear before the court. Considering the reasons, the next hearing date should be fixed after the election,” the BNP chief said.

The makeshift trial court yesterday adjourned till January 3 next year the hearing in the Niko graft case filed against Khaleda Zia and others. Judge Md Mahmudul Kabir of the special judge court-9 passed the order after Khaleda’s lawyer filed a time petition seeking an adjournment.

The former premier was taken to the makeshift court at the old central jail from the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on November 8 for a hearing of the Niko graft case. After the hearing, the court sent her to the jail on the same day.

Earlier, on October 6, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to the BSMMU after the prison authorities shifted her there from jail for better treatment in response to a court order. On October 4, the High Court (HC) directed the government to immediately admit Khaleda Zia to the BSMMU and form a new five-member medical board for her treatment.

Khaleda Zia has been in the old central jail at Nazimuddin Road since she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8.