BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can now only be sent abroad for advanced medical treatment through movement as the government has turned down her family’s petition, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
"There is no other option left. There is only one thing to do, movement, movement and movement," he said on Monday while addressing a rally.
Nearly 1,000 BNP supporters attended a demonstration in front of the National Press Club, demanding party chief Khaleda be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment.
BNP supporters holding a rally in front of the National Press Club on Monday, November 22, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
"We will carry out peaceful movement with the people and to free Khaleda Zia so that she can get proper medical care abroad," said Mirza Fakhrul.
He warned party workers over being reckless as “we had to pay a lot for that in the past.”
Urging all other political parties to unite, the senior BNP leader said, “Let's save the country and its people, restore democracy and free Khaleda Zia. We will establish democracy by forming a neutral government.”
Also Read - Police break up BNP procession after rally in front of press club
The government has completely failed, he said before adding: “They have made our lives miserable. Commodity prices are skyrocketing.”
New programmes
At the rally BNP announced that it would submit memorandum to the deputy commissioners of 64 districts across the country on November 24 seeking overseas medical treatment for the party chief.
Announcing the new programme, the BNP secretary general told the rally they would go for tougher agitations if the demands are not met.
BNP supporters holding a rally in front of the National Press Club on Monday, November 22, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy claimed that the government is “conspiring to kill Khaleda Zia” by denying her proper medical treatment.
On Saturday, the party observed a seven-hour nationwide hunger strike to seek overseas medical treatment for Khaleda.
‘Police break up procession’
BNP supporters have alleged the police of using batons to break up a procession taken out after the rally in front of the National Press Club.
Law enforces break up the procession as soon as it reached the Kakrail intersection around 12pm, said Fazlur Rahman Khokon, the president of the party’s student affiliate Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.
“Several of our leaders and activists were injured when the police attacked us,” he said.
Police, however, said when they procession was stopped at Kakrail, the BNP supporters left.
“No one was arrested or detained,” said Ramna police OC Monirul Islam.
Khaleda has been released from jail through an executive order suspending her jail sentence after being convicted in graft cases.
Her family filed a petition to allow her to travel abroad for treatment, but the government says that she must return to jail first to apply for permission.
Khaleda suffers from arthritis, diabetes and complications involving the kidneys and lungs. She had been hospitalized with Covid-19 as well.
She was convicted in two graft cases and was taken to jail three years ago.
In April 2020, the government granted a request from her family for a conditional temporary release from jail on “humanitarian grounds.”