Khaleda's health deteriorates further: BNP

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has accused the prison authorities of neglecting the health of incarcerated party chairperson Khaleda Zia, saying her condition has deteriorated further, reports UNB.

“The jail authorities are not paying the due attention to Khaleda Zia's health condition,” BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told the media at the party's Naya Paltan office in the capital city on Wednesday.

“Relatives, who visited the former prime minister Tuesday, said her condition has worsened,” Fakhrul said, claiming that there was a plot to kill Khaleda in jail by denying her medical care.

Khaleda, a three-time prime minister, is in jail since 8 February last year as she was convicted in a corruption case.

Her five-year sentence was later doubled. The BNP chairperson was also convicted in a separate corruption case later that year.

The BNP claims the cases are politically motivated and that the government is trying to keep her away from politics - charges the government denies.

The party contested the 11th parliamentary elections, held on 30 December, without Khaleda Zia.

Ruling Bangladesh Awami League won 96 per cent seats in the 300-member assembly.

Unconditional release of Khaleda has been her party's main demand ever since she has been incarcerated.

Fakhrul said the BNP chief is so ill that she cannot move independently. "She's also complaining of pain in different parts of her body," he said.

The BNP leader alleged that the medical board formed at the High Court's order is not ensuring her treatment.

He also expressed concerns as the government has not taken any step to shift Khelada Zia to any specialised hospital for treatment even after the BNP's 4 March meeting with the home minister.

Fakhrul demanded the BNP chief be treated at a specialised hospital.

“If anything happens to her, the government, the jail authorities and the home ministry will have to take the responsibility,” he said.