It’s politically motivated
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said the demand to send BNP chief Khaleda Zia abroad was raised with a political reason, not simply because of her health problems.
"Who has said Khaleda Zia is in a critical condition? It was said by BNP central leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Almgir and Rizvi. No physician has said that Khaleda Zia is critically ill yet," the minister said while talking to reporters at the secretariat.
He added that neither physicians nor Evercare Hospital authorities [where Khaleda is admitted] said anything about the necessity to send her abroad for treatment and that it is only BNP's demand, he added.
"It's my question whether BNP leaders have become doctors! It's also a question whether the government will take any decision as per BNP leaders' prescription," he said.
"We saw in the past that when Khaleda Zia fell sick, they always demanded that the government send her abroad... whether it's knee pain or high body temperature, they
always demanded the same. It's a politically motivated demand," said the minister.
They want to send Khaleda to London where Tarique Zia is staying so that she could continue politics from there despite being a convicted accused, the minister said.
Khaleda was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on November 13, six days after she had returned home from the hospital.
The BNP chief's physicians said she has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, critical cardiac, kidney ophthalmological and dental complications. The hemoglobin level in her blood has also dropped.
On behalf of the family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the home ministry on November 11, urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.
Law Minister Anisul Huq, however, recently said the BNP chairperson first has to make a fresh application by going back to jail in order to go abroad.
A delegation of pro-BNP lawyers on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the law minister, seeking the government's permission in this regard.
They argued that there is no legal obstruction for the government in allowing Khaleda to go abroad.
On the topic, the minister said they will examine the memorandum.
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