Khaleda’s condition critical: Fakhrul

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's condition is very critical, party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.

“Doctors are monitoring her condition properly and treating her accordingly. They’re doing their best,” Fakhrul said while speaking at an emergency press conference at the Naya Paltan party office on Wednesday afternoon.

"The government has pushed her to death without any treatment in the last three years," the BNP leader alleged.

"The government has imprisoned this charismatic leader to abolish country's democracy," he said.

BNP and its associate bodies have taken up an eight-day countrywide programme to force the government for allowing its chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced medical treatment.

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Wednesday.

The programmes include demonstration, rally, human chain, doa mahfil and silent procession.

BNP, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, Muktijoddha Dal and Mohila Dal, Krishak Dal and Chhatra Dal will observe the programmes from November 25 to December 4.

As part of the programmes, he said, Jubo Dal will stage demonstrations across the country on November 25 (Thursday), while Swechchasebak Dal, Krishak Dal and Chhatra Dal will observe a similar programme all over the country on November 28, December 3 and December 4 respectively.

In Dhaka, the programmes will be held in front of the Jatiya Press Club, the BNP leader said.

He said BNP will organise rallies in all district headquarters on December 30, while Muktijoddha Dal form human chains all over the country on December 2 and Mohila Dal take out silent processions across the country on December 1.

Besides, Fakhrul said BNP will arrange doa mahfil in all mosques across the country after Juma’ prayers on November 26 praying for Khaleda’s release and early recovery. The other religious community members will also arrange prayer sessions in their worship places on the same day.

“We’re going to observe these programmes from tomorrow (Thursday) demanding Madam’s (Khaleda’s) release and her treatment abroad. Observance of these programmes will depend on Khaleda Zia’s health condition. We may change the programmes, if necessary,” he said.

He condemned the attacks on their party’s rallies in different parts of the country, including Khulna, Narsingdi, Natore, Satkhira and Barguna on Monday, demanding Khaleda’s release for advanced treatment outside the country.

Meanwhile, BNP’s all district units submitted memorandums to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices across the country today (Wednesday) to press for their same demand.

On Monday, the party arranged countrywide rallies and observed a seven-hour mass-hunger strike all over the country on Saturday to mount pressure on the government to allow ailing Khaleda to go abroad.

‘Rumour mill goes into overdrive over Khaleda’s health’

BNP Secretary General alleged that a quarter is spreading rumours over Khaleda Zia’s health condition with an evil intention.

"These are absolutely rumours and baseless. I’ll let you know about Madam’s (Khaleda’s) condition if you directly phone me,” he said as journalists drew his attention to various speculations on Khaleda’s latest health condition.

He also said some rumours are still there even after he briefed journalists about their party chief’s latest condition on Tuesday night. “I think any quarter is spreading these with malicious intent.”

The rumour mill went into overdrive on social media since Tuesday night that Khaleda’s conditions deteriorated seriously, creating confusion among many BNP leaders and activists and common people.

Fakhrul, however, said Khaleda is still in a very critical stage. “Doctors are monitoring her condition properly and treating her accordingly. They’re doing their best.”

Asked about another speculation over countrywide ’red alert’ over the bad news on Khaleda’s condition, the BNP leader said he did not find its basis as the government has so far issued no notification in this regard.

The BNP leader alleged that the government pushed their party chief towards death by not providing her any treatment after sending her to jail in ‘’false’’ cases.

Recalling Khaleda’s many contributions to the country and its people, he said the government is depriving such a leader of availing of the scope to go abroad for advanced treatment.