Khaleda being pushed towards slow death: Fakhrul

The government is pushing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia slowly towards death by denying proper treatment, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.

Khaleda is confined in an abandoned prison following a jail sentence in false cases, Fakhrul said at a press conference arranged at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader said a medical board formed by the High Court visited Khaleda on February 24. They were amazed to see that no medical test was conducted on her since November 9, Fakhrul claimed.

She could walk properly when she went to jail, but now she cannot even stand without someone else's help, Fakhrul said.

Khaleda has pain in her shoulders and knees. Besides, she is also suffering from various health problem including diabetes, he added.

"If something happens to Khaleda Zia, this unelected government has to take the responsibility. The three times prime minister deserves better treatment. Our party is willing to bear all the costs of her treatment,"Fakhrul said.

The government is systematically "plotting" to eliminate Khaleda from politics and for the past four months her relatives, lawyers and party activists could not meet her, he alleged.

She must get unconditional release from prison immediately, Fakhrul said.

BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moin Khan, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP Vice Chairman AZM Zahid Hossain were present, among others, at the press conference.