BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia
Quader: BNP suffers from crisis of public confidence
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said the opposition BNP suffers from a serious crisis of public confidence and the people have no interest in its existence in politics.
The Awami League general secretary made the remarks at a briefing at his official residence this morning.
He dismissed BNP leaders’ recent statements about the treatment of Begum Khaleda Zia as just repeat playing of a “broken record.”
Read: Quader criticises BNP for not standing by people during Corona, cyclone
He said the BNP’s allegations make no sense as Begum Zia is getting treatment by the doctors of her choice as the government has been liberal on this issue.
Quader said that Begum Zia's sentence has been suspended and given opportunity to seek treatment at home due to the magnanimity of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Responding to Mirza Fakhrul’s allegations the AL leader said all the recent elections have proved on which side the people take.
He further said that in future also the people will prove that they are with Sheikh Hasina’s politics of development and achievements.
Commenting on Sheikh Hasina's development and visionary politics, Quader said that the BNP is now isolated from mass people for its conspiracies and anti-development politics.
Read: BNP has lost interest in elections, says Obaidul Quader
He said people simply laugh at BNP when its leaders allege that the government has destroyed the country's economy.
He also said that Bangladesh has graduated to a developing economy under the able leadership of Sheikh Hasina and the BNP is too blind to see this.
Quader said he said there is no point for BNP to look ahead if it gets trapped in the circle of negative politics after failures in movement and elections.
Remove barriers to sending Khaleda abroad: BNP
BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Monday called upon the government to withdraw its restriction on sending their party’s ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment.
“Begum Khaleda Zia has been imprisoned unjustly and she’s now ill. We demand her release from jail as we want her to recover from illness,” he said.
Read: Khaleda’s body temperature under control: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said Khaleda should be given an opportunity to go abroad for the treatment she needs like any other citizen in Bangladesh and like other political leaders. “The restriction that has been unjustly imposed in this regard should be lifted.”
He came up with the call while inaugurating a photo exhibition arranged by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) in memory of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, marking his 40th death anniversary.
Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said people have been living in miseries due the coronavirus outbreak for lack of a pro-people government.
"We want an end to the miseries of people. Establishing a democratic and responsible government is the only solution to the ongoing crisis in the country,” he said.
Read: Khaleda Zia suffering from fever
The BNP leader said a pro-people government can only be established through a credible parliamentary election under a neutral and non-partisan administration.
Stating that BNP has long been in a struggle to ‘restore’ democracy and overcome the country’s all crises and turn Bangladesh into a humanitarian state. “Our goal will surely be achieved.”
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3. She is still receiving treatment there.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital, a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief is still suffering from post-Covid complications.
Read:Post-Covid complications affected Khaleda’s heart, kidneys: Fakhrul
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down as a convicted person cannot avail of such an opportunity.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order on March 25 last year on conditions that she would take treatment at home and would not go abroad.
Khaleda tests negative for Covid
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia finally tested negative for Covid-19, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
“Madam (Khaleda) underwent the Covid test on Saturday and her report came out negative,” the BNP chief’s medical board member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB early Sunday.
Another physician of her medical board said, “Madam is still being given oxygen support though her overall condition marked a little improvement. Her oxygen level is coming down to 90 percent when there's no oxygen support,” he said.
The physician, wishing anonymity, said though the amount of fluid in her lungs has decreased, It's still being extracted from her lungs which is now a matter of concern.
He said the BNP chief’s blood sugar level is gradually coming under control while pain in her joins has relieved significantly.
Also read: Law Ministry’s opinion on taking Khaleda abroad soon: Anisul
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup.
She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on Monday last.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was positive.
Also read: Khaleda shifted to CCU with breathing problem: Doctor
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
Medical board to review Khaleda’s health condition today: Doctor
The 10-member medical board, formed to ensure the treatment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, is going to sit in a meeting on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital to review her health condition.
Khaleda Zia was shifted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital with breathing problems on Monday with breathing difficulties.
Read Also: Khaleda shifted to CCU with breathing problem: Doctor
“Madam’s condition is fine as her breathing difficulties eased. The 10-member medical board will examine all the test reports today (Tuesday),” said Mohammad Al Mamun, Khaleda’s personal physician and one of the medical board members.
“I’m now going to Evercare Hospital to join the medical board meeting,” he told UNB around 1pm.
Replying to a question, Mamun said the medical board will review her current condition and give an opinion on whether she needs treatment abroad.
Meanwhile, a BNP senior leader wishing anonymity said Khaleda’s family wants to take her aboard for advanced treatment, and they are now trying to get the government’s permission in this regard.
He also said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir talked to the Home Minister on Monday about their party chief’s health condition and treatment aboard.
However, neither Fakhrul nor Khaleda’s sister Selima Rahman could be reached over the phone for their comments on the matter.
Read Also: Khaleda unlikely to be discharged from hospital before Monday: Doctors
Khaleda, tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 10 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was positive.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
She was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) the same day, and she has been staying at her Gulshan house since then.
On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last.
Read Also: 10-member medical board formed for Khaleda's treatment
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term.
Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.
Graft cases: Khaleda’s sentences suspended for another 6 months
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s conditional release from jail in two corruption cases has been extended by another six months.
2020: No political mileage for BNP
Always criticised by political analysts for its lack of farsightedness, Khaleda Zia’s BNP has lost another year, 2020, in its efforts to remerge as a strong political party with a glowing role.
Khaleda’s conditional release extended by six months
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s conditional release from jail in two corruption cases has been extended by another six months.
Khaleda still on 'slippery ground'
The government’s positive signal to extend the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s sentences for another six months has surely brought some sort of relief for her party rank and file, but political analysts think such conditional release is unlikely to help BNP gain any political mileage since she will virtually remain under ‘house arrest’.
Zia behind Aug 15 killings, Khaleda involved in Aug 21 attack: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday renewed her allegations that Khaleda Zia was involved in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack as her husband Ziaur Rahman was behind the August 15, 1975 killings.
SC upholds HC order halting trial proceedings in 4 cases against Khaleda
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the High Court Division order that stayed trial proceedings in four sabotage cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.