Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said the government has suspended punishment for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for more six months on humanitarian ground considering her health condition amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"The government has suspended Begum Zia's sentence for more six months so that the 75-year-old leader can receive necessary physical treatment," he said while addressing a medical equipment distribution program among the doctors at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhaka's Dhanmondi.
Begum Zia has also been granted bail earlier on the same ground, said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, after joining the function through a video conferencing from his official residence in the capital.
On March 25, the government released the ailing BNP chief for six months suspending her sentences for six months on humanitarian ground considering her old age.
Awami League's relief and social welfare sub-committee organized the virtual event.
Referring to an assault on Wahida Khanam, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Ghoraghat in Dinajpur, the ruling party leader said none will be spared who were involved in the attack.
"Necessary initiatives have been taken to ensure better treatment for the UNO."
Quader, however, feared that the Covid-19 pandemic situation likely to become more severe as people seem reluctant on maintaining health rules, which is crucial to contain spread of the viral.
"The government has provided food assistance to over 12,500,000 families across the country amid the back-to-back floods and coronavirus pandemic," Quader said.
The relief assistance includes over Tk11 crore in cash which had been distributed among the poor people throughout the country.
"The government as well as the Awami League have proved that how helpless people can survive with the government's assistance during the distress period," said Abdur Rahman, presidium member of the ruling Awami League.
Awami League's Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Women Affairs Secretary Meher Afroz Chumki MP, Education and Human Resources Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Central Committee member Parven Zaman Kolpona, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice Chancellor Dr Kanak Kanti Barua, and Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) Director Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin, among others, virtually attended the function.
