BNP accuses govt of buying time to send documents

Senior Correspondent: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has alleged that the authorities concerned are willingly buying time to send the lower courts documents to the High Court (HC) regarding the verdict against Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case only to prolong her stay in jail.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the allegation while speaking at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.

He also voiced concern over the health condition of its jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia as she has been suffering from various diseases and demanded the government immediately ensure her proper treatment.

 “We don’t know under which condition she (Khaleda) has been there in jail. We’re deeply concerned over her illness. We strongly demand the government ensure her proper treatment,” he said.

“Our chairperson’s physicians have said she has long been suffering from various ailments, including respiratory, eye, knee and heart problems and high-blood pressure. Though her specialised doctors repeatedly went to the jail gate, the authorities didn’t allow them to visit her,” Rizvi added.

The BNP leader also demanded the government immediately release her from jail. “A three-time Prime Minister, two-time Opposition Leader and elderly and sick politician like Khaleda Zia is being tortured keeping her in jail. We think it is the utter violation of human rights.”

risingbd/Dhaka/March 06, 2018/Reza/A K Azad