Khaleda may not recover: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday voiced grave concern over the well-being of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

“Khaleda Zia’s condition is very critical now and there’s a possibility that she might not recover,” Fakhrul said.

He was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of the party founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of Dhaka.

Fakhrul was flanked by a good number of leaders and activists of the party’s youth front Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, marking its 41st founding anniversary.

“Khaleda Zia would seek treatment as per her preferences if she gets bail, but the government is denying her bail with an ill-motive,” the BNP leader alleged.

The former prime minister has been in jail since she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8 last year.

She was found guilty in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated.

The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) since April 1 this year.

BNP has since been claiming that the health condition of their party chief has deteriorated alarmingly and called upon party men to take to the streets to demand her release.

Khaleda Zia’s elder sister Selima Islam on Friday met her at BSMMU and told reporters that the family members want to take her (Khaleda) abroad on bail as she urgently needs better treatment.

“Khaleda Zia was in better condition when she was taken to BSMMU for treatment. But now she cannot even get up from bed or walk on her own,” he said, adding that Khaleda Zia will not receive proper treatment at BSMMU.

Earlier on October 1, BNP lawmakers including Harunur Rashid, Ukil Abdus Sattar and Aminul Islam met Khaleda Zia at BSMMU and expressed their party chief’s willingness to go abroad for better treatment if she gets bail.