BNP’s hunger strike tomorrow

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party will observe a seven-hour mass-hunger strike on Saturday across the country, including the capital, demanding the immediate release of ‘critically’ ill Khaleda Zia for better treatment abroad.

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Fakhrul said the programme will be observed in all metropolitan cities and district towns from 9am to 4pm.

In the capital, he said, the programme will be held in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office if they do not get any other suitable venue.

“Khaleda Zia is fighting a battle between life and death. She’s the most beloved leader of the people of Bangladesh. It’s inhumane that she won’t be given a scope to receive treatment abroad.”

“Our leader Begum Khaleda Zia is in a fight between life and death. Physicians at Evercare Hospital are making their best efforts to treat her. She has been suffering from multiple diseases,” he said.

Law Minister Anisul Huq, meanwhile, on Thursday said there is no legal scope in the present situation to allow ailing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment.

“There’s no scope in the law. They can rebuke me as much as they wish but it doesn’t matter to me… I’ll follow the law,” he said.

Pointing at Khaleda Zia, Anisul Huq said a convicted person was released suspending her sentence as per section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC) but there is no provision to reconsider an already disposed appeal in the section.

The minister said Khaleda Zia is getting treatment properly as per their statements. “It is up to them whether they’re happy or not with the treatment,” he added.

He said the BNP leaders argued that Khaleda Zia can be released for receiving treatment abroad on humanitarian grounds and raised some previous instances in this regard saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was allowed to go abroad in 2007-2008 despite having lawsuits against her. “But it’s not true as the Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) has never been convicted in any case,” he added.

Annisul said the BNP leaders also said ASM Abdur Rab was sent to Germany from jail for treatment. “But I don’t know the section which was followed to send him abroad as it was done during the martial law period. The martial laws don’t go with the CrPC provision,” he added.