BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. File photo

The government has assured the BNP of taking all necessary actions to ensure proper treatment of its chief Khaleda Zia.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the comment after a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his secretariat office yesterday, reports UNB.

“We have come to the home minister to talk about our Chairperson Khaleda Zia's illness and her proper treatment. The minister listened to us very attentively,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said the minister assured them of taking whatever steps were needed for ensuring proper treatment of the BNP chief. “We believe that the home minister will keep his word.”

A six-member BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul, held the meeting with Asaduzzaman from 2:30pm to 3:05pm. The other members of the team were BNP standing committee members Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Later in the evening, the minister said the BNP chairperson would soon be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for medical checkup and tests.

“The jail authorities have been implementing decisions of the medical board, formed as per High Court directives,” he told reporters regarding the meeting, reports BSS.

Asaduzzaman said the government had been providing proper treatment, checkup and other healthcares facilities to Khaleda.

Replying to a query, the minister said, “I will talk to the IG [prisons] about the medical board's suggestions and ask him to send her to the BSMMU soon for checkup and tests.”

Khaleda has been in jail since February 8 last year when a special court convicted her of graft in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Meanwhile, the BNP will form a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club from 11:00am to noon today, demanding unconditional release of Khaleda, and seeking proper treatment of her.