BNP deeply concerned over Khaleda’s health

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has expressed deep concern about the wellbeing of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “The jail authorities are not taking any measure even after we expressed concern over her health and treatment. We are very worried about her life as the government and jail authorities are apathetic to the issue,” he told a press briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters on Wednesday. Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said on Monday that no negligence was shown in Khaleda’s treatment in jail. But Rizvi characterized the health minister’s remarks on Khaleda’s treatment as false. Rizvi alleged the jail authorities have not yet complied with the medical board’s recommendations for Khaleda including providing her with an orthopaedic bed. He also alleged no treatment is being provided to the BNP chief in jail and that her personal physicians were also not allowed there. He renewed their party’s demand for allowing Khaleda to receive treatment at the city’s United Hospital by her personal physicians. “This is a conspiracy of the government,” Rizvi said. He further said: “The prime minister wants to ruin her political rival. She is torturing Khaleda Zia by keeping her confined to jail and not allowing her treatment. “Her next target is Tarique Rahman [the elder son of Khaleda Zia].” Rizvi said they would announce the BNP’s next program in Dhaka demanding the release of Khaleda after the ongoing district programs were over. Later in the day, echoing Rizvi, BNP National Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also termed the negligence of Khaleda Zia’s health a “government conspiracy,” reports UNB. Addressing a discussion at the National Press Club in Dhaka, he said: “Khaleda was sent to jail for political reasons. They (the government) are not allowing her to receive treatment. They themselves are using her illness as a political tool while asking us not to.” “They want to remove the option of electing the new government through voting,” he said, alleging the government is trying to restore one-party rule in the country by eliminating its opposition.Sections of this article were first published on banglatribune.com