BNP demands Khaleda’s treatment in local hospital

Two BNP senior leaders met home minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday with their party's demand for ensuring better treatment of their ailing chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the capital's United Hospital.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that they found the home minister positive about their demand.

"Khaleda Zia is seriously sick in jail as she even can't walk. So, we've requested the home minister to take immediate steps for her better treatment and proper medical tests," he said.

Mentioning that their chairperson has confidence in doctors and medical tests of the United Hospital, Nazrul said they told the home minister to take her to the private hospital.

Asked what the home minister said, he said, "The home minister's statements seem positive in this regard. He also called the IG (prisons) to join our meeting, and we discussed everything in front of him."

The BNP leader said Asaduzzaman Khan also gave his consent about ensuring proper treatment of Khaleda at a better place. "We'll now wait to see what steps the IG (prisons) takes. We hope they will take steps for our leaders' health check-up and treatment at the United Hospital."

Nazrul said their chairperson requires physiotherapy for some consecutive days for her knee pain. "But it's not possible in jail... if any wrong physiotherapy is given by nurses in jail, it may seriously affect her health."

He hoped that the government will finalise its decision on Khaleda's treatment by today (Sunday).

The BNP leader said they urged the home minister to take steps so that Khaleda's female relatives can meet her at the 1st floor in jail since she cannot come down to the ground floor due to her illness.

"When the ailing persons see their relatives beside them, they feel better and become happy. "So, we've requested the Home Minister to take the matter into their consideration."

Nazrul also said they sought cooperation of the home minister so that their party can form a human chain in the city on 25 April and Sramik Dal can hold their scheduled rally on 1 May at Suhrawardy Udyan.

Asked whether they talked about taking Khaleda abroad, an irritated Nazrul said there is no question of sending her abroad for treatment. "We're saying to provide her with treatment at a [private] hospital here."

Earlier, Nazrul together with party vice chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed went to the home minister's secretariat office around 11:30am and had over a half-an-hour meeting.

BNP delegation met the home minister following some BNP leaders and Khaleda's relatives were denied visiting her in jail respectively on Thursday and Friday.

On 8 February, Khaleda was sent to Nazimuddin Road Old Central Jail after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Amid the report of Khaleda's illness, the government formed a medical team comprising four professors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital early this month.

On 7 April, the BNP chief was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for some medical tests as per the prescription of the medical team.

BNP, however, has been demanding that the government allow Khaleda to receive treatment by her personal physicians at the United Hospital instead of any public one.