Shawdesh Desk:

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday threatened to announce tougher programmes if the government failed to allow its ailing party chief Khaleda Zia to go abroad for receiving advanced treatment.

‘The people of Bangladesh will not remain silent if steps are not taken immediately for ensuring the treatment of our leader Begum Khaleda Zia abroad,’ said BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Speaking at a prayer session, the BNP leader also said that their party had a scheduled protest programme on August 19. ‘Later, if necessary, tougher programmes can be announced demanding the treatment of our leader. Everyone must be ready for it.’’

He said that Kahleda’s life had to be saved to restore democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the voting rights of the people of Bangladesh.

‘The entire nation is now moving in that direction. I’m sure that we’ll be able free our leader (Khaleda) and ensure her treatment so that she can return to the political arena,’ he said.

Khosru alleged that the government was deliberately pushing Khaleda toward death by not giving her a scope to receive advanced treatment abroad ignoring the repeated requests of doctors.

He said that the government along with those who sent Khaleda Zia to jail in false cases and those who are depriving her of her treatment must be accountable in the days to come.

‘The judiciary is now being used as a political weapon. Our leader and mother of democracy (Khaleda) was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in a false case using the judiciary as a political weapon. People of Bangladesh can no longer remain silent since the judiciary, their last hope and resort, has become a political weapon,’ the BNP leader said.

BNP organised the programme at its Naya Paltan central office, marking the 79th birthday of party chairperson Khaleda Zia. The party’s all city and district units also arranged prayer sessions seeking divine blessings for the speedy recovery of Khaleda.

He said that foreign countries alongside the people of Bangladesh were worried about the BNP chief’s ailments and treatment and many of them asked the Bangladesh government through letters to take measures for her treatment.

On August 9, Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital for health checkups and treatment as she fell sick and she has been receiving treatment under close observation of doctors in a cabin at the hospital since then.

Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.

She was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a lower court on February 8, 2018. On March 25, 2020, the BNP chief was released from jail upon an executive order on some conditions considering her age and humanitarian ground following an application by her family.