Khaleda to be taken to BSMMU on her consent: IG prisons

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) tomorrow for her necessary test and treatment if she agrees, Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin said today.

"The jail code does not allow the authority to treat Khaleda Zia at a private hospital expending government's money. And thus, we will take her to BSMMU tomorrow if she agrees," the IG prisons said.

Khaleda's personal physicians met her at the Old Central Jail in Dhaka on Saturday and told reporters that the former premier might have suffered a mild stroke as she fell on the floor on June 5.

Soon after the information, BNP has been raising its demand for taking the party chief to United Hospital immediately for her proper test and treatment citing that there is no adequate treatment facilities at BSMMU.

Speaking at a press conference at his office in Dhaka this noon, Iftekhar trashed BNP demand outright saying that there is no scope to go beyond the jail code. 

"We will take Khaleda Zia to BSMMU tomorrow morning and the BSMMU has been asked to be prepared. But her eagerness is a matter in this regard," the jail official said.

However, Iftekhar said any prisoner can be treated at any private hospital if the government wants, but in this context, the decision needs to be taken who will bear her treatment expenditure and how, he added.

Responding to a query, he said, "Khaleda Zia did not become unconscious. She was just imbalanced and she was given treatment immediately.”

When asked about Khaleda's Eid observation, the IG prison said all sorts of arrangement will be kept prepared so that she can offer prayers of Eid-ul-Fitr.

"Good quality of food will be served to her on the Eid day and her relatives will be allowed to meet Khaleda with food," he said.