Prison sentence during AL tenure responsible for Khaleda’s illness: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that party chief Khaleda Zia’s long-running health complications began during her two-year imprisonment under the Awami League government.

He described it as the result of “criminal negligence” and a lack of proper medical care.

Speaking after a special prayer gathering at Naya Paltan Jame Mosque for Khaleda’s recovery following Friday prayers, Fakhrul said: “She became even more unwell due to the absence of adequate treatment.”

He said the party expects that once an air ambulance arrives in Dhaka on Saturday, the 79-year-old former prime minister could be flown to London the following day.

Khaleda has long suffered from arthritis and diabetes, alongside kidney, liver, lung, cardiac and eye complications. She has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka since Nov 23 due to a chest infection.

Khaleda was jailed on Feb 8, 2018 after being convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. When her health deteriorated in custody, she was transferred to the Bangladesh Medical University Hospital under prison supervision.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Awami League government suspended her sentence by executive order, releasing her under conditions that required her to stay at her Gulshan residence and barred her from seeking treatment abroad.

She was hospitalised several times in the years that followed and underwent major medical procedures.

Circumstances changed after the fall of the Awami League government in July 2024.

Khaleda was freed on Aug 7 last year under a presidential order, and the High Court subsequently acquitted her in two cases. She travelled to London for treatment in January this year, but was hospitalised again on Nov 23.

Fakhrul said, “Our leader has devoted her entire life to establishing democracy in this country. Everyone knows the unjust treatment, repression and persecution she faced under the previous ‘fascist’ Hasina regime. She was kept imprisoned for six long years.”

 “For two of those years, she was held in solitary confinement. Many believe her illnesses originated there.”

He added that people across Bangladesh offered prayers for her recovery after Friday prayers, regardless of political affiliation.

Fakhrul urged the nation to continue praying “with heart and soul” for Khaleda.

The medical board overseeing her treatment decided on Thursday that she should be taken to the United Kingdom for advanced care, via a special air ambulance from the emir of Qatar, as was the case in January.

Although she had been expected to leave on Friday morning, Fakhrul later said the air ambulance could not arrive due to a “technical glitch”.

Subject to medical clearance, Khaleda may be flown to London on Sunday.

 “Doctors are trying their utmost. If the air ambulance arrives tomorrow, it may be possible to take her to London the day after, on Sunday,” Fakhrul said.