Send Khaleda abroad for treatment: BNP
Staff Reporter :
Main opposition party- BNP’s highest policy making body, National Standing Committee, on Tuesday urged the government to allow the party’s ailing Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to go abroad for better treatment as soon as possible as her health condition has been deteriorated further.
“Begum Khaleda Zia is a senior citizen of the country and receiving necessary medical treatment is a fundamental right of a citizen.
The Constitution guarantees her right to life-saving treatment which is now not possible in the country as per the doctors,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference, on behalf of the BNP standing committee, at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office in the capital.
Mirza Fakhrul said preventing Begum Khaleda Zia from going abroad for receiving advanced medical treatment is tantamount to ignoring the constitution.
“It is clear so far that our leader (Khaleda Zia) is being denied the medical protection preserved by the Constitution. It’s unfair, inhumane, unconstitutional and unacceptable,” the BNP Secretary General said.
The BNP leader said there is no scope to deprive a seriously sick former prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, from receiving advanced medical treatment abroad on the pretext of laws.
The government has to ensure her constitutional and fundamental rights.
“BNP chief’s treatment is impossible in the country.
The government is pushing Begum Zia towards death by denying her right to medical treatment in excuse of law with a hidden motive,” he said.
The BNP leader warned that the consequences for unjustly putting a political opponent to death can never be good.
“If she is not allowed to go abroad for treatment, the government will be held responsible for denying the constitutional rights of an important and popular leader and for showing an illegal, inhumane and cruel attitude towards her,” he said.
BNP Standing Committee Members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Vice-Chairman Barkatullah Bulu were present in the press conference.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s brother Shamim Iskandar submitted an application to the government on September 5, seeking her unconditional release and permission to take her abroad for her treatment.
Meanwhile, the law ministry denied her permission to go abroad for better treatment, suggesting that she must first return to jail and may apply to the court to get permission in this regard.
Replying to a query, the BNP leader said, “We can’t forcibly take her abroad.
It is not possible for us…we believe that the government’s downfall will be ensured through the people’s movement and then it will be possible to ensure her better treatment.”
Mirza Fakhrul said Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader ASM Abdur Rob, and Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim were given scope by the government to go abroad for treatment during their jail terms.
Meanwhile, the BNP organised a road march in Faridpur division which started from Rajbari and ended at Shariatpur on Tuesday.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury led the road march.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that the government’s only hope of survival is through vote rigging in the upcoming general polls, as it has no one on its side at home or abroad.
“The BNP men have to keep eyes and ears open. List the names of those involved in the vote-stealing project of the government,” Amir Khasru said.
He said, “Whenever I go, everyone wants to know how long this government will be in power? Everyone is looking forward to when this government will go?”
“All the countries of the world, all the democratic organisations have also taken decisions.
No one is with this government.
Therefore, the project of vote-rigging is Sheikh Hasina’s only hope.
But we never can let it happen,” the BNP leader said.