BNP has been politicizing their party Chairperson, Khaleda Zia's, illness; just to serve its political agenda, according to Awami League's Publicity and Publication Secretary and Information Minister Hasan Mahmud.
He remarked this at a rally organized to celebrate the fifth founding anniversary of the Bangladesh United Islamic Party, at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday.
He said: "Every other day, BNP leaders and activists claim that Khaleda has fallen sick and needs better treatment. Also, they do not want her for treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
"Even our severely-ill party general secretary received proper treatment there. The doctors coming from Singapore, as well as the famous cardiologist Devi Shetty, went on record that the facilities and doctors at BSMMU are world-class."
'This is a clear indication that BNP is doing politics with Khaleda Zia's health," he added.
Claiming that the BNP chairperson is healthy, the information minister said: "They [BNP leaders] are trying to portray a healthy person as sick to the public. Khaleda's complications are very old and she has been fine with them for years.
"BNP is trying to mislead the public by turning this into an issue."
Awami League also alleged that BNP-Jamaat used the Islamic scholars of the country for their own interests and advantages.
He said: "BNP and Jamaat have always used religion to get votes and come to power.
"However, they did not do anything for the benefit of the scholars and the Muslim community of Bangladesh."
Highlighting the various initiatives taken by the government for Islamic scholars—and the community as a whole—the minister said: "The certificate of Qawmi madrasas has now been recognized as equivalent to a Master's Degree from any mainstream Bangladeshi university.
"We have passed a law in parliament regarding this."
The rally was presided over by Maulana Ismail Hossain, and leaders and activists of the Bangladesh United Islamic Party were present at the event.
