Government will not be cruel to Khaleda: Quader

The government will arrange necessary medical care for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail, after assessing her ailments, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said.

“The government will not be inhumane to her. We have quality medical services available in the country. We will definitely take steps when needed,” he told reporters after wrapping up a meeting at the Awami League president’s office in Dhanmondi.

His statements came on Friday hours after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged authorities to release an “ailing” Khaleda from jail unconditionally.

Fakhrul said the 73-year-old former prime minister needed immediate medical tests and treatment.

A special trial court ordered a five-year jail sentence for Khaleda on Feb 8 after finding her guilty in a graft case involving Zia Orphanage Trust. Since then, the BNP chairperson has been behind bars in Old Dhaka.

A High Court order granting bail to her for four months was stayed by the Appellate Division on petitions by the state and the Anti-Corruption Commission, the plaintiff of the case.

Mirza Fakhrul was due to meet Khaleda on Thursday but the meeting was cancelled after Khaleda fell ill in jail, according to BNP.

The jail authorities are yet to make a formal announcement, but the BNP claims that it was the jailor who phoned Khaleda’s personal secretary to inform him about Khaleda’s deteriorating health.

“The BNP has confidently claimed that Khaleda is ill. Necessary treatment will be arranged for her wherever needed -- at home or abroad,” said Quader. “Steps will be taken after consulting doctors to find out how serious her condition is.”

“We need to see if it is a terminal disease or a pretty normal case. If doctors suggest sending her abroad, actions will be taken accordingly,” Quader added.

Quader, also the minister for road transport and bridges, blamed internal conflicts among Awami League factions for the defeat in the local government election on Thursday.

“The BNP could win only in those areas where our leaders share animosity.”

The leader also blamed the media for “being biased” in covering the election.

Tough action will be taken against those who contested the polls ignoring collective decisions by the party, he further said.