Don’t politicise Khaleda’s treatment

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday asked BNP leaders not to do politics over their Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s medical treatment.

“The government is trying to provide the best medical treatment to Khaleda Zia,” said the minister while talking to reporters during a views-exchange meeting at the Secretariat.

He said when Khaleda was at the Old Dhaka jail, there were doctors, nurses and physiotherapists for her. Besides, there was a house help with her. “I don’t know whether anyone receives such facilities in the Indian subcontinent.”

The minister said Khaleda’s illness is an old issue. She has been suffering from knee problem for the last 15 years and it sometimes gets worse, he added.

Responding to a question about Dr Kamal Hossain, Mahmud asked how will those who cannot maintain unity among themselves forge a greater unity to protect democracy?

About the growing number of newspapers, the minister said there are 3,500 newspapers, including 1,200 dailies, in the country. “The online media will be brought under a registration process soon,” he added.

On Friday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the government is trying to kill Khaleda in jail. “The government is prolonging Khaleda Zia’s stay in jail by creating obstacles to her release using various ploys. They are trying to interfere in the trial and push her towards death in jail without treatment,” he said in a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.