Govt barring relatives from meeting Khaleda, says Rizvi

A BNP senior leader alleged on Monday the government is barring the relatives of party chairperson Khaleda Zia from meeting her in jail for over the last three weeks, report agencies.

He said she is being deprived of the legitimate rights of prisoners.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the allegation while speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city.

"Around 21-22 days have passed by since Khaleda Zia's close relatives met her. Though the BNP chairperson's personal secretary, close relatives, and party senior leaders repeatedly sought permission to meet her, the jail authorities aren't paying heed to it," he said.

He further said, "As per the jail code, a prisoner can meet relatives after every seven days, but they made it 15 days regarding Khaleda Zia. Now the authorities are ignoring their 15 days rule at the behest of the government. What a cruel behaviour it is?"

The BNP leader alleged that the government is mentally torturing Khaleda Zia as part of a plan to harm the nationalist forces in many ways. "Prohibiting Khaleda Zia's close relatives from meeting her is a serious mental repression. The country's people, not only her relatives, are worried over the matter."

He alleged that the government is trying to keep Khaleda isolated from the outside world by confining her to red walls of jail.

Rizvi demanded the authorities concerned to take necessary steps so that the relatives of the BNP chairperson can meet her in jail.

On February 8 last year, Khaleda Zia was sent to jail as she was convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Rizvi alleged his party leaders and activists are being arrested and implicated in 'false' cases even after the 11th parliamentary elections.