Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. File Photo
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday accused BSMMU authorities of resorting to lies over the health condition of their ailing party chairperson Khaleda Zia, reports UNB.
Speaking at a discussion, he also questioned what prime minister Sheikh Hasina achieved for the country by attending the recent 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Azerbaijan.”The medical board chairman (of Khaleda) said she is fine and she can be back to her house or in the place from where she was taken (to the hospital). What is the motive behind such a remark?” the BNP leader said.
Speaking at a discussion, he further said, “They blatantly lied before the nation. They made false statements about the health condition of a three-time former prime minister and the country’s most popular leader who struggled for a long time for democracy. They must be accountable for it someday.”
Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking its 41st founding anniversary.
On Monday, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) director Brig Gen AK Mahbubul Hoque at a press conference said the health condition of Khaleda Zia’s is stable with significant improvement in some cases. “Her condition didn’t deteriorate in any way.”
Khaleda’s medical board chief Prof M Zilan Miah Sarker said they are happy over the BNP chief’s treatment, and they do not think Khaleda’s life is at risk, but it is Allah who gives people the life and protects it.
Fakhrul urged the BSMMU authorities to inform the nation clearly about their chairperson’s real health condition. “We know it very well she’s not now in the condition with which she was taken to the hospital.”
He said Khaleda Zia now cannot rise from bed, unable to eat and move without wheelchair. “We would like to clearly say you (govt) have kept her in jail for political reason out of your vengeance. She must be released immediately.”
Stating that Khaleda deserves to be freed on bail, the BNP leader urged the government not to obstruct her from getting bail as it is her constitutional right.
Fakhrul, however, said the government will not easily release Khaleda from jail. “We must take to the streets and force the government to free her.”
He also said the current anti-corruption drive is definitely mere eyewash. “By arresting some small fry, you’re trying to demonstrate that you’re conducting a purification drive. Through the drive, it has proved that you’re impure and you need purification.”
Stating that killing, rape, social crimes and plundering have hit society hard, the BNP leader said the government has ‘profaned’ entire Bangladesh with the culture of impunity.
He said corruption has spread so badly that 70 per cent money has been spent pn consultancy fee of a project at Rooppur while only 30 per cent for the work done. “This means 70 percent money has been plundered.”
Fakhrul said Sheikh Hasina joined the NAM summit and had many meetings on the sidelines. “We don’t know what we’ve achieved from the meetings. We still could not resolve the Rohingya problem.”
He also alleged that though the Indian politicians are threatening sending lakhs of people left out of the NRC list to Bangladesh, the government is playing an inactive role in this regard.
BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, vice chairman Barkatullah Bulu and joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, among others, addressed the programme.
Source: Prothom Alo.
