Khaleda Zia not being allowed to go abroad for treatment: Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that they were waiting for party chairperson Khaleda Zia to be given a chance to go abroad for better medical treatment.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader expressed his hopes in this regard while paying respects on Saturday at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar of the capital city, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

Speaking to newsmen, Mirza Fakhrul said that Khaleda Zia was quite unwell. He said, “Her health problems persist and she isn’t being given the opportunity for medical treatment. She cannot go to the local hospitals given the prevailing circumstances.”

The BNP secretary general went on to say, “The physicians are unable to come over and she not being allowed to go abroad for treatment. We are waiting for her to be given that opportunity and hope she will get the chance.”

“If Khaleda Zia was well, we would have brought her here,” he said, “but she had been detained in a false case. He has been detained under all sorts of conditions.”

Greeting the people on the occasion of Eid, the BNP secretary general said that because of coronavirus, only the standing committee members had come to offer their respects at Ziaur Rahman’s grave. The people this Eid are having to tackle both the virus and floods, he added.

He said, “I call upon the government to shrug off its negligence and to ensure rehabilitation of the flood victims, not just relief. The floods are likely to be long-term this time. This calls for long-term planning which the government does not do. It does not take the views of others into cognizance. We have started working within our limitations.”

Other members of the BNP standing committee offered their respects at Ziaur Rahman’s grave alongside Mirza Fakhrul.