'Cowardly' govt exposed in handling of Khaleda Zia's treatment: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the incumbent ‘cowardly’ government wants to kill Khaleda Zia without allowing her to receive treatment abroad.

“The people of the country have burst into anger as the current unelected and anti-mass regime wants to kill her without giving her any scope for treatment,” he said.

Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also said the government is resorting to deception and giving wrong interpretation of laws to mislead people in a bid to kill Khaleda without treatment.

“They’re scared and cowards. They know that if Khaleda Zia recovers and returns among the people their throne will collapse,” he observed.

Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan Central Office, demanding the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia from ‘unjust’ captivity, resignation of the current regime and holding the next election under a non-party neutral government.

Fakhrul said the government is showing various laws regarding Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad though Awami League President Sheik Hasina went to the USA from jail for the treatment of her ear problem during the 1/11 political changeover.

“So, why are you saying these things now when Begum Khaleda Zia is on the crossroad of life and death,” he said.

The BNP leader said the government is unwilling to allow Khaleda to receive treatment abroad out of political vengeance.

“They don't want Begum Zia to recover and they don’t want to allow her to do politics. The main goal of the Awami League is that there will be no opposition party in this country. Only they will run the government in this country. Their statements give an impression that they are the only owners of this country and we all are their subjects,” he said.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka since August 9 as she has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.

On Sunday, Law Minister Anisul Huq rejected an application seeking permission to send BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment.

The Law Ministry gave this opinion upon receiving an application sent by the Home Ministry in response to the request of the family of the former prime minister.

On September 18, the government once again extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term by another six months.

Fakhrul slammed the ruling party leaders for what he said making unguarded comments against US Ambassador Peter Haas ignoring the diplomatic norms as they are angry with him.

Even, he said the television channels subservient to the government are spreading lies involving the US ambassador. “They (govt) are so irresponsible that they have created a problem with the country where we export the most goods and RMG products.”

About the significant decrease in remittance flow in the last month, the BNP leader said the Bangladeshi expatriates living in different countries are sending less money to Bangladesh as they lost confidence in its economy.

Fakhrul once again urged the government to quit with dignity and dissolve parliament to hold the next election under a non-party neutral administration, paving the way for a credible election in the country.

Otherwise, he said the people of the country know how to eliminate the dictatorship and fascism. “We don’t have any other alternative to ousting this regime.”

The BNP leader also urged the government to wake up and put up a strong resistance against the current government.

He alleged that the farmers are not getting the fair price of their produce due to corruption and plundering by the government.

Fakhrul alleged that ruling party leaders are amassing huge wealth and siphoning off money abroad by indulging in plundering in the name of mega projects.