Khaleda 'seriously ill', needs to be admitted to BSMMU

The BNP yesterday claimed that its Chairperson Khaleda Zia is “seriously ill” and demanded her immediate admission to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

“Madam is very ill, and she is not getting proper treatment in jail. She is denied the treatment prescribed by the doctors at PG hospital [BSMMU]. She was also taken back to jail all of a sudden. This is inhumane…” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He was talking to reporters after a meeting with Khaleda at Old Dhaka Central Jail yesterday.

Fakhrul led a five-member BNP delegation to meet Khaleda in jail. They entered the jail and held a one-and-a-half-hour discussion with her.

Other delegation members were senior leaders Moudud Ahmed, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamir Uddin Sircar, and Mirza Abbas.

The BNP secretary general also demanded that the authorities shift Khaleda to BSMMU immediately for her treatment.

“Nowhere in the law was it said that a person who can't move and is ill have to be taken to court in a wheel-chair and then brought back to prison. We condemn this act by the authorities.”

“She (Khaleda) was not given therapy for four days; as a result, the pain in her body has gotten worse,” Fakhrul said.

He also reiterated the demand for immediate release of Khaleda Zia from jail.

Responding to a query, the BNP leader said no discussion over the upcoming election was held with Khaleda Zia.

Fakhrul said Khaleda asked the party leaders to move forward with the “strength of the unity forged among the people”.