Family calls for release of Khaleda

Khaleda Zia's sister Selima Islam yesterday made a humanitarian call to the government for releasing the BNP chairperson from jail to pave the way for her advanced treatment.

"Her physical condition is very bad now. She is suffering from respiratory problem. She is almost unable to speak," Selima told reporters after meeting Khaleda at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

She called upon the government to consider her ailment, physical condition, and age. "She should either be released or granted bail on humanitarian grounds. We make this call to the government and demand her unconditional release."

Selima said the BNP chief even cannot stand for five minutes without help from others. "The distance from her room to the washroom is very short, but it takes her around 20 minutes to get there. Her left hand has got bent completely while the right one is also getting bent."

She also said her sister was unable to eat due to vomiting problem as she was suffering from fever and serious pains in her body. Besides, her diabetic problem also remains beyond control.

Under the circumstances, Khaleda urgently need advanced treatment, she added.

She expressed fear that anything bad could happen to the BNP chief if she was not provided with an advanced treatment immediately.

"We want her to be freed so that we can at least ensure an advanced treatment for her. This is our only request [to the government]," an emotional Selima told the journalists.

Asked whether they submitted any application to the government in this regard, she replied in the negative. "We are making an appeal to the nation and the country's people to pray for her early recovery, and make efforts to free her."

Five of Khaleda's family members, including Selima, her younger brother Shamim Eskandar's wife Kaniz Fatema and her son Ovik Eskandar, Tarique Rahman's sister-in-law Shahina Zaman Bindu and Arafat Rahman Koko's mother-in-law Mukrema Reza, went to meet Khaleda around 3:30pm. They stayed there for about an hour, said Shamsuddin Didar, a member of the BNP chairperson's media wing.

Khaleda has been behind bars since February 8, 2018 when she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Later that year, she was found guilty in another graft case.

However, her party claims both cases are politically motivated.The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the BSMMU since April 1 last year.