Oikya Front to meet Khaleda: Minister says steps as per jail code

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday said steps will be taken as per the jail code regarding the Jatiya Oikya Front's plea for permission to meet BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at Bangabandhu Sheik Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), reports UNB. 

"Nine Oikya Front leaders, including Kamal Hossain, want to meet Khaleda Zia. We've informed them that steps will be taken in this regard as per the jail code," he said.

The minister came up with the remark while talking to reporters after an eight-member Oikya Front delegation, led by ASM Abdur Rob, met him at his Secretariat office.

He said they will send the application of the Oikyafront leaders to the IG Prison who will take steps as per the jail code.

Asaduzzaman also said no one except the relatives can meet prisoners without the government's goodwill.

The minister said he informed the Oikyafront delegation that Khaleda has been provided with highest healthcare service in the country. "There's no shortcoming in her treatment."

Abdur Rob said they met the home minister and sought permission to meet Khaleda Zia to know about her health condition. "He (minister) said there's no objection to allowing us to meet her, and he'll instruct the IG Prison to take steps in this regard. It's a positive (response).

He said the IG Prison will inform them about the schedule for the meeting as per the jail code.

"The home minister said we'll be able to meet (Khaleda) any day if the IG Prison permits. We'll be waiting for the permission from the IG Prison," Rob, also the president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, added.

He said the home minister told them that they can meet the BNP chief separately or all together once the permission is available from the jail authorities.

The other Oikya Front delegation members were BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Gonoforum executive president Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Reza Kibria, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, JSD joint general secretary Shahiduddin Mahmud Swapan, Bikalpa Dhara president Nurul Amin Bepari, and Oikya Front office secretary Jahangir Alam Mintoo.

Khaleda has been in jail since she was convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in 8 February 2018. She was found guilty in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both the cases are 'politically motivated'.

She has been receiving treatment at the BSMMU since 1 April last.