Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP warns of tougher programmes

BNP today threatened to announce tougher programmes if the government does not allow its ailing party chief Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment.

"The people of Bangladesh will not remain silent if steps are not taken immediately for ensuring the treatment of our leader Begum Khaleda Zia abroad," said BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Speaking at a milad and doa mahfil, the BNP leader also said their party has a scheduled protest programme on the 19th August. "Later, if necessary, tougher programmes can be announced demanding the treatment of our leader. Everyone must be ready for it.‍‍`‍‍`

He said Kahleda‍‍`s life has to be saved to restore democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the voting rights of the people of Bangladesh.

"The entire nation is now moving in that direction. I‍‍`m sure that we‍‍`ll be able free our leader (Khaleda) and ensure her treatment so that she can return to the political arena," he added.

Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, alleged that the government is deliberately pushing Khaleda toward death by not giving her a scope to receive advanced treatment abroad ignoring the repeated requests of doctors.

BNP arranged the programme at its Nayapaltan central office, marking the 79th birthday of party chairperson Khaleda Zia. The party‍‍`s all city and district units also arranged the events seeking blessings for the speedy recovery of Khaleda.

On August 9, Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital for health checkups and treatment as she fell sick, and she has been receiving treatment under close observation of doctors in a cabin at the hospital since then.

Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.

She was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after her conviction in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a lower court on February 8, 2018. On March 25, 2020, on condition, the BNP chief was released from jail by an executive order on humanitarian ground.

The decision followed an application by her family.