Khaleda to be brought to BSMMU ‘soon’

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, jailed in a corruption case, will soon be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for medical tests, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Tuesday, reports UNB.

Shortly after a meeting with senior BNP leaders at his Secretariat office, the minister also said the former prime minister has been receiving "the best treatment" as per the jail code.

"They (BNP leaders) handed over a letter requesting permission to take Khaleda Zia to United Hospital," the minister said. "We told them that the decision will be taken by the medical board."

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury met Asaduzzaman from 2:30pm to 3:05pm.

The home minister said a medical board, formed at the court's order, examined Khaleda on February 24. "She needs to undergo some media tests and those will be done at BSMMU."

He also said he will ask the IG Prison to take necessary steps to send Khaleda to the BSMMU as per the Medical Board's suggestion.

Earlier, talking to reporters after the meeting with the Home Minister, Fakhrul said they have been assured that all the necessary steps will be taken for ensuring proper treatment of their ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia.

"We've come to the minister to talk about our leader Khaleda Zia's illness and her proper treatment. The minister listened to us very attentively," the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul further said, "He (Home Minister) told us that he'll take whatever steps are needed for ensuring proper treatment to our leader."

He expressed the hope that Asaduzzaman will live up to his commitment by taking the highest measure for the best treatment of Khaleda Zia.

Amid their deep worry about the health condition of Khaleda Zia in jail, the BNP leaders met the home minister with their demand for better treatment to her.

On Sunday last, Khaleda Zia talked to Fakhrul about her illness at a makeshift court in Old Dhaka Central Jail.

Meanwhile, the BNP secretary general speaking at a discussion on the day alleged that a North Korea-like situation has been prevailing in Bangladesh for lack of democracy.

"There's no democracy and freedom of expression in the country. Foreign media are comparing Bangladesh's current situation with that of North Korea as people have no freedom here," he said.

The BNP leader further said, "We must overcome the situation and come out of the darkness to light. We must take a bow on this day to move forward to freeing our leader Khaleda Zia."

The programme was jointly arranged by Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum, marking the 13th anniversary of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's imprisonment.

The BNP leader said the followers of Bangladeshi nationalism will move on braving all repressive acts and obstacles to ensure people's rights and independence.

Referring to his meeting with their party chairperson Khaleda Zia at a court on Sunday, Fakhrul said it was so shocking to see the way she was brought to the court in a wheelchair.

"For the first time, she said she is ill and enduring pains due to her sickness and arthritis problem."

The BNP leader also said several thousand leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies have also been kept in jail by implicating them in 'false cases'.

Fakhrul said their party is happy over the participation of its student body Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in the election to Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) as it has created a scope for the organisation to demonstrate its strength.