Dhaka, June 14 – The BNP on Thursday demanded the ‘unconditional’ release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia, not that of on parole, from jail before Eid-ul-Fitr.“I don’t know what her lawyers have said…I on behalf of party demand she (Khaleda) be released before the eid without any condition,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.He came up with the demand at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
Earlier on Wednesday, Khaleda’s lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain urged the government to release the BNP chief from jail on parole on a humanitarian ground for her better treatment.
Rizvi said the government is putting various conditions for Khaleda’s treatment as part of its blueprint. “They’re imposing the conditions as they don’t want to provide her treatment.”
He alleged that the jail authorities are buying time to give Khaleda treatment at the behest of the Prime Minister to endanger her life.
The BNP leader urged the government to take immediate steps for ensuring proper treatment of Khaleda Zia at United Hospital in the capital. “She won’t receive treatment anywhere, except the United Hospital.”- UNB
Our Staff Reporter adds: The party on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of different districts across the country demanding the release of Khaleda Zia and providing her treatment at United Hospital.
The party in its memorandum expressed deep concern over the delay to send Khaleda to the United Hospital to provide her ‘proper treatment’.
They warned that if any untoward incident takes place in regard to Khaleda the government has to take the responsibility.
As part of the scheduled programme, a BNP delegation led by party assistant organising secretary (Dhaka Division) Abdus Salam Azad, Dhaka district BNP general secretary Khandaker Abu Ashfaq and Dhaka South City BNP general secretary Kazi Abul Bashar handed over the memorandum to Dhaka DC Abu Saleh Md Ferdous Khan at about 11:00 am.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) demanding the shifting our leader Begum Khaleda Zia to United Hospital immediately to provide her proper treatment,” said Abdus Salam Azad after submitting the memorandum.
He accused the government of keeping Khaleda in the prision without providing her proper treatment only to cling to power.
He warned that the government has to take the responsibility for any untoward incident for its negligence.
Organising secretary Fazlul Hque Milon said they also submitted a memorandum to Gazipur DC demanding the shifting of the party chairperson to the specialised hospital (United Hospital) for her proper treatment.
He expects that the government would consider the matter on a humanitarian ground and take immidiate measure to send Khaleda to the United Hospital.
A special judges court sentenced Khaleda for five years in jail in a graft case and sent her to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road on February 8 this year.
The 73-year old former premier is suffering from diseases and fainted at the jail on June 3.
The jail authority wanted to take Khaleda to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for her further treatment but she refused to go there saying that she won’t go to any hospital other than the United Hospital. – Staff Reporter
