Opposition BNP lawmakers threatened Sunday to resign from parliament if anything untoward happened to party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's life for want of "better treatment".
"Please don't compel us to resign from the Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament). We also said it earlier that we would seriously consider resigning if our rational demand for Begum Zia's release and treatment abroad was not realised," Harunur Rashid MP told the media during a rally organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Members of Parliament at the South Plaza of Sangsad Bhaban.
The lawmakers of the former ruling party came out with their stance at a time when the BNP took to the street with a mass hunger strike a day before on the same demand. The party also has called countrywide demonstrations for Monday.
He said that Begum Zia's release and medical treatment abroad now "solely depends on the Prime Minister's will, which has been reflected in her (PM Sheikh Hasina) speech during her meet-the-press programme at Ganobhaban recently.
He opined that had the article 401 been executed properly, Begum Zia would have been released much earlier and got treatment abroad as her health condition is now critical.
The opposition MP blamed the government for not releasing Begum Zia for treatment abroad sensing that if she was set free, the ongoing "anti-government sentiment would get a new impetus to oust the government".
"It is a matter of shame that the PM is dictating Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haque in passing comments on Begum Zia's health issue," he said.
Earlier, the law minister had said that if necessary, BNP could bring physicians from abroad for her (Begum Zia) treatment here in Bangladesh.
"We didn't demand that. Our demand is release Begum Zia immediately and allow her receiving treatment abroad," Harunur Rashid said.
He admitted that they had joined the Jatiya Sangsad as MPs to raise voice for the public and the country's interest.
"Now the people are facing the crisis of democracy, and Begum Zia is now behind bar," he said.
He reminded that his party chairperson had played a key role in establishing democracy in the country.
Party MPs Golam Mohammad Siraj, Mosharraf Hossain and Barrister Rumin Farhana (women's reserved seat) also took part in the event, among others.
Meanwhile, leaders of five political parties in the BNP-led 20-party alliance handed over a memorandum on the day to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal seeking government help to release the BNP chairperson and allow her to receive treatment abroad.
The former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, who was convicted in two cases, has been out for treatment at home on suspension of the jail sentences.
Chairman of Bangladesh Kalyan Party Major-General (Retd) Syed Mohamnad Ibrahim led the five-party delegation in submitting the memorandum to the minister at his Bangladesh Secretariat office.
Chairman of National People's Party or NPP Dr Fariduzzaman Farhad, Chairman of National Democratic Party or NDP Kari Md Taher and Chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Dal Advocate Syed Ehsanul Huda were among others in the team.
BNP Chairperson Begum Zia has been suffering from multiple physical ailments, including heart, renal and arthritics.
She has been receiving treatment at city's Evercare Hospital since November 13.
Her local doctors suggested sending her abroad for advanced treatment which, they say, she critically needs now.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
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