Govt violating Khaleda's visitation rights: BNP

The BNP yesterday alleged that the government is not allowing Khaleda Zia's relatives or party leaders to meet her at jail.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the party, made the claim during a press briefing at the Nayapaltan headquarters of the party.

June 30 was the last time when Khaleda's relatives were allowed to visit her at the prison set up on the former central jail premises in Old Dhaka.

“Relatives and friends [BNP leaders] of Khaleda Zia have not been given permission to meet her in the last 11 days. Her relatives, lawyers and we could not meet her despite repeated attempts,” Fakhrul said.

Alleging that the government is violating Khaleda's human and constitutional rights as well as the jail code by barring her from seeing her relatives and party leaders, he speculated whether the government has intentions to “kill Khaleda Zia in solitary confinement in jail”. 

“Even doctors were not allowed to see her. What's their motive for depriving our leader of medical treatment? Do you [government] want to finish her off in the solitary confinement in jail? History will not forgive you if you do so.”

He also said the government resorted to entrapment in order to confine the BNP chief in prison so she cannot take part in politics and elections.