The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), dominated by pro-BNP lawyers, today demanded that the government should immediately send BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to specialised United Hospitals for her treatment as she wishes it.

“Khaleda Zia was the prime minister of the country for three times. She has a right to get treatment. She should be provided treatment as she wishes,” SCBA President Zainul Abedin said while speaking at a press conference at the SCBA auditorium in Dhaka this afternoon.

Advocate Zainul said the lawyers are anxious with the health of Khaleda Zia.

The SCBA president disagreed with Khaleda’s another lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain about her release on parole.

Zainul, also a vice chairman of BNP, said Khandker Mahbub Hossain’s statement for the release of Khaleda Zia on parole is his (Khandker Mahbub) personal opinion.

“We will not make any statement on his (Khandker Mahbub) opinion,” he said.     

Khandker Mahbub, a senior lawyer for Khaleda, yesterday urged the government to release her from jail on parole on humanitarian ground for her better treatment.

“Since Khaleda Zia has been detained in prison for more than four months, her diseases have turned severe and an apprehension has been created over her life. It is not possible to release her quickly from jail through legal process, as both the Appellate and High Court Divisions and the lower courts are now closed due to Eid-ul-Fitr holidays,” Advocate Khandker Mahbub said yesterday.

Today, SCBA President Zainul demanded of the government to stop “extrajudicial killing in the name of gunfight in anti-drug drive” and to bring the original drug traders and their godfathers to the book of law.

“We have come to know from the media reports that more than 200 people have been killed in the gunfight. Many innocent people were also killed. It cannot be a desire of a civilized country and nation,” he said.