Shato Nagorik Committee, a platform of pro-BNP intellectuals and professionals, on Tuesday urged the government to allow BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment on humanitarian grounds.

In a statement, they said former Prime Minister Khaleda is seriously ill and her condition is now very critical.

“We strongly request the government to allow the beloved leader of the people to go abroad for receiving the most sophisticated treatment as soon as possible purely one humanitarian grounds, shunning all forms of vengeance, narrow party and personal interests,” the statement reads.

It hoped that a sense of well-being would prevail upon the government to take steps for Khaleda’s treatment abroad, playing a responsible role with goodwill.

Also read: Khaleda has to go back to jail for permission to go abroad: Law Minister

“We fear that any kind of delay and excuse could lead to a catastrophe that would not carry a good message for anyone,” the statement warned.

Prof Anwarullah Chowdhury, Prof SMA Faiz, Prof Mahbub Ullah, Prof ZM Tahmida Begum, Prof Wakil Ahmed, Prof Manusur Musa, Prof Abdul Quddus, poet Abdul Hai Sikder, Prof Obaidul Islam, Prof Lutfar Rahman, Prof Rezaul Karim, Prof Iftekharul Alam Masud, Prof Kamrul Ahsan and Prof Farhad Halim Donar, among others, signed the statement.

Khaleda, a 76-year-old former Prime Minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on Saturday six days after she had returned home from the hospital.

On behalf of the BNP chief’s family, her younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on Thursday urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.

Also read: Khaleda critically ill, says Fakhrul

The BNP chief's physicians said she has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, ophthalmological and dental complications.

A physician at her medical team said Khaleda is now suffering from a critical cardiac problem while her blood sugar is out of control and hemoglobin level in her blood has dropped.

The BNP chief’s family applied to the government twice in May and August earlier, seeking permission to take her abroad for better treatment, but the government denied it, saying that there was no scope for a convict to get such an opportunity.