All in govt to face murder charge if anything happens to Khaleda: BNP

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday warned that everyone in the current Awami League government will be charged with “murder” if any accident happens to its Chairperson Khaleda Zia for lack of advanced treatment abroad.

“They (govt) are hatching a plot knowingly as part of their premeditated plan to kill our leader Khaleda Zia. They want to kill her,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a human chain programme, he also said when people, irrespective of their party and opinion, want Khaleda to be sent abroad, the current government and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are not allowing her to go there for treatment out of serious political ‘vengeance’.

“We would like to clearly say if any accident happens to Khaleda Zia for lack of advanced treatment, then each of them (in the govt) will be tried making them accused of a murder case,” the BNP leader said.

As part of their countrywide programme, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the human chain in front of the National Press Club, registering their protest against the ‘unilateral’ 10th parliament election held on January 5, 2014.

Fakhrul said the Awami League government sent Khaleda to jail by convicting her in “false” cases as part of its “blueprint of depoliticisation and eliminating the BNP chief”.

He said Khaleda Zia is now fighting for life in a hospital in the capital with a very critical health issue.

The BNP leader said doctors are saying it is now essential to send Khaleda abroad right now, but the government is not taking any step in this regard. “Instead, they’re trying to fool people on the pretext of law. No law is greater than a human life.”

Fakhrul urged the government to take proper steps to send Khaleda abroad for treatment immediately recognising her contributions to the country, its development, and democracy shunning political vengeance.

Fakhrul said doctors are sincere about the treatment of Khaleda Zia and they are putting in their best efforts to keep her alive.

“But she suffered from bleeding the day before yesterday (Monday) again. I spoke to the doctors yesterday (Tuesday) and they said what they’re doing now is a very temporary measure with the medical facilities and technical support they have. The threat to the life of Begum Khaleda Zia could turn out to be fatal at any time,” he said.

The BNP leader called upon their party leaders and activists to intensify the current movement by uniting people to force the government to ensure Khaleda’s advanced treatment abroad.

“We’ve to cross the bumpy road ahead of us. We’ve to forge a strong unity through maintaining discipline and respecting each other. We saw mass waves towards our rallies in different districts. I saw a mass wave today as well in Dhaka. We believe the fascist Awami League government will be swept away by the waves of people,” he observed.