The government is preventing Khaleda Zia from seeking vital medical treatment abroad, even though it has become a matter of life and death for her, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam said on Friday.
"We have not forgotten that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was permitted to seek treatment in America for an ear problem during the caretaker government. Khaleda Zia is in a critical condition, yet the government has not made any arrangements for her medical care," Fakhrul told a rally in the capital's Abdullahpur today.
"Khaleda Zia is currently the most oppressed and deprived individual in the country. She is being held captive as an act of political vengeance by the government," Fakhrul added.
BNP staged two rallies in the capital today, marking the third day of the party's ongoing 17-day movement to press home their one-point demand for the resignation of the current government and the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The rally organised by Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP commenced at the grounds adjacent to Abdullah Polwel Market at around 3pm on Friday. Simultaneously, the Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP rally is taking place at Shaheed Faruque Road in Jatra Bari.
Following the Jumma prayer, BNP leaders and activists, carrying banners and festoons, started congregating at the rally venues, chanting slogans for the release of Khaleda Zia.
Besides, the party orchestrated prayer programmes nationwide after Jumma prayers, with the hope for Khaleda Zia's swift recovery.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul addressed the rally in Abdullahpur, Dhaka North, while the party's Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas attended the Jatra Bari rally as the chief guest.
BNP started a 15-day programme on Tuesday demanding the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament, reinstatement of a caretaker government system and the release of party chief Khaleda Zia. Later, the party extended the programme till 5 October and announced a nationwide rally on Sunday to demand Khaleda Zia's release and treatment abroad.
