BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today claimed that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) prepared BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s medical report last night, but they could not submit it before the court under pressure from the government.

“According to an unofficial source, the medical report of Khaleda was prepared by the BSMMU last night. But it (the process) was halted under the direct pressure from the government,” Mirza Fakhrul alleged at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan office today.

The entire nation was disappointed after the court rejected the lawyers’ plea for hearing Khaleda’s appeal today and later deferred the date of hearing, he also said.

“We were observing with utter surprise and concern that BNP chairperson was denied facilities at the prison cell from the very beginning of the case,” he alleged.

Terming the rejection of Khaleda’s bail as inhumane and against the existing law, Fakhrul said, “In such case, the bail is supposed to be granted within seven days. But it was not happened in the context of Khaleda rather her bail appeal has been obstructed in every steps.”

About Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comment against Khaleda, Fakhrul said the premier is interfering in the judiciary.

The prime minister yesterday came down heavily on BNP chief Khaleda and termed her the “godmother of terrorism” in the country.

With that remark, the PM and her government showed fear to BSMMU authorities as they (government) do not want bail of Khaleda.

“Release of Khaleda is not a matter of kindness rather it is her legal right. Everything is planned to keep her away from politics which is completely illegal,” he further claimed.

The BNP leader said there is a death risk of Khaleda, if she was not treated properly and the government will be responsible for not treating her.

BNP has demanded that the government cancel its recent decision to hike price of gas by 22.78 percent.

When soaring price of daily commodities is causing immense public suffering, the increase in the price of gas will be a big blow to them, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today at a press conference at the party chairperson's office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

At the press conference, the BNP general secretary also announced a three-day protest against the price hike of the essential commodities, and gas.

The programme includes demonstrations at all metropolitan areas, including Dhaka, on June 9, at district headquarters on June 11, and at the upazila level on June 13.

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Govt hikes gas tariff by 22.8pc

Mirza Fakhrul said that BNP's standing committee meeting took the decision on the three-day protest programme.

All the associate bodies of BNP will join the programme, Fakhrul said.

Bangladesh's energy regulator has decided to increase gas price by 22.78 percent for all users, on average. The gas price hike will be applicable from June.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today expressed satisfaction over the verdict of the Holey Artisan café attack case saying that he is happy with the verdict.

“We welcome the verdict. We hope, we all will remain alert so that such type of incident cannot take place again in the country,” Fakhrul said while addressing a programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka this noon.

Showing a cause of emergence of the militancy, Fakhrul said such type of insurgent attack takes place when people’s democratic rights are curbed.

Claiming that the militant insurgency has been destroying the human civilisation, Fakhrul said the government has pushed the country, during its 10 to 12 years of administration, at a situation that can never be called a democratic one.

“Design to turn the country into an utterly undemocratic and failed one has almost been drawn,” Fakhrul said.

Fakhrul said Awami League Presidium Member Mhammed Nasim has criticised BNP as the party did not come up with any comments soon after announcement of the verdict in the Holey Artisan café attack case.

“It is not right. We first made a call to form a national unity soon after the Holey Artisan café attack to deal with the issue strong handedly,” he said.

Seven men were sentenced to death by a Dhaka court on Wednesday, for their roles in the July 1, 2016 attack on an upscale café in the heart of the diplomatic quarter which left 22 people, mostly foreigners, dead.