Expressing grave concern over health condition of Khaleda Zia, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today urged the authorities to take an immediate step for her proper treatment either at home or abroad as per her desire.

“She (Khaleda) has been suffering from ulcer in her tongue. She has lost around four kg weight in the last one week. It's very alarming. She is now unable to eat anything,” Fakhrul said while addressing a press conference at Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office in Dhaka this afternoon.

The BNP leader also urged the government to free the BNP chairperson from jail immediately to facilitate her better treatment according to her own choice.

On February 8, 2018, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail as she was convicted in Zia Orphanage trust graft case. Later, she was convicted in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

She has been undergoing treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) since April 1 this year.

“She is now in a serious condition there. Two people help her to leave her bed and go to dining table and washroom in a wheelchair. It's inhuman keeping her in jail in such a condition,” the BNP leader said.

Claiming that Khaleda Zia fought for democracy for a long time and was held captive in the hands of Pakistani army along with her two sons during the country’s Liberation War, Fakhrul said, “The government is showing an inhuman attitude towards her. We can’t accept it anyhow.”

Apart from tongue ulcer, Khaleda is suffering from acute pain in her tongue due to sharpness in her teeth that harmed the tongue.

“Khaleda Zia cannot eat anything properly. Earlier, doctors have treated her to reduce the sharpness of her teeth, but it has increased further. And thus, she needs dental treatment,” he said.

Khaleda’s sugar level is not coming under control even after taking insulin and other medicines, Fakhrul said adding that they are seriously worried whether the government is trying to push Khaleda towards the verge of death keeping her in jail.

He also called upon the media men to play a role for placing the issue before the countrymen as well as the government so that Khaleda Zia can get proper treatment, Fakhrul said.

“I am clearly telling that, we want her immediate release that she deserves,” he said blaming the government for creating hindrance at every stage on the way of her release from jail.

BNP Standing Committee Members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and other rank and file of the party were present at the press conference.