Khaleda’s treatment abroad: Fakhrul urges leaders, activists to take to streets

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the party leaders and activists to take to the streets demanding its Chairperson Khaleda Zia's treatment abroad.

"Let's all work together to liberate democracy by sending the country's leader Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment," he said at a rally organised by Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal in front of the National Press Club on Friday.

Urging the Krishak Dal leaders to spread all over the country, Fakhrul said, "Get all the farmers of Bangladesh out of their homes. Let them all come to the streets for their leader, for the existence of Bangladesh. Together, we will send the country's leader Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment and for liberating democracy."

Fakhrul alleged that, "Awami League cannot tolerate anyone. That is why they are punishing her [Khaleda] with false cases. They are killing Begum Zia in a planned way because they cannot tolerate a difference of opinion."

The BNP general secretary said Khaleda is bleeding and she will not survive if this continues for a long time. Liver cirrhosis is a very serious disease which cannot be treated in the country. It can be cured only by treatment in America, England or Germany.

"We are fighting for the release and treatment of the person who has given parliamentary democracy to the country and fought for the restoration of democracy," he continued.

"Defeating this misrule, we have to establish a true and beautiful democratic government in the true sense of the word," he said.

Fakhrul also said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is leading the party from a distance of 8,000 miles with great success.

For the last few days, BNP leaders and activists have been staging protests to press home their demands and clashed with law enforcers at different places across the country.

BNP lawmakers had earlier threatened to step down if their party chief was not allowed to go abroad.

The BNP chief landed in jail in February 2018 in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. On 30 October that year, the High Court extended her punishment to 10 years, dismissing her appeal.

Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the government on 25 March last year granted her temporary release on conditions at the request of her family. Till now, the term of her release has been extended four times.

BNP Vice-Chairman and Former president of Krishak Dal Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Juba Dal General Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Krishak Dal Vice-President Gautam Chakraborty and others also addressed the rally presided over by Krishak Dal President Hasan Jafir Tuhin.