By Mir Afroz Zaman
Dhaka, Nov 20 (UNI) BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has suddenly become 'hot' Politics of Bangladesh. BNP leaders are speaking at various places, including the National Assembly, demanding permission to take Khaleda Zia abroad.
The party's MPs have even threatened to resign from the National Assembly.
On the other hand, in response to threats from BNP MPs, Law Minister Anisul Haque said, "What the BNP is demanding is not in the law books".
Khaleda Zia has been admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital due to physical illness.
Her younger brother Shamim Iskander has again appealed to the government to take Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment.
From then on, politics suddenly became heated.
At a press conference at the BNP chairperson's office on Thursday, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed that Khaleda Zia was on the verge of death.
He urged the government to immediately allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for better treatment.
Besides, the allies of the 20-party alliance have called on the government to give Khaleda Zia a chance to go abroad.
In a statement on Thursday, allies LDP, Labor Party and National Unity Front made the demand.
Bogra-6 MP Golam Mohammad (GM) Siraj has demanded that Khaleda Zia be sent abroad for treatment in a day or two on humanitarian grounds.
"There are six BNP members (excluding the reserved women MPs) in this parliament," she said. If Khaleda Zia is not allowed to go abroad, then we are ready to resign'.
Harunur Rashid, MP from Chapainawabganj-3 constituency, said, "We agree with the statement made by GM Siraj in Parliament regarding his resignation.
Madam (Khaleda Zia) has been repeatedly demanding her release and medical treatment from her family and party. If any accident happens to the BNP chairperson, the responsibility will fall on the government. Then we can get out of parliament'.
Meanwhile, in response to a statement by BNP MP GM Siraj, Law Minister Anisul Haque said in Parliament, "What the BNP is demanding is not in the law books." They (BNP) can abuse me as much as they want, it doesn't matter to me. I will abide by the law'.
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a function at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the capital on Friday (November 19th) morning that "the law minister said there was no legal opportunity to send Khaleda Zia abroad".
There are legal opportunities. Article 401 of the Criminal Code, which refers to it, states that the government may release him if it so desires, may send him abroad for medical treatment, and may pardon him altogether if the government so desires.
But their goal is the same, by completely removing Khaleda Zia from politics, now they are planning to remove her from life. That's why they don't want to give him that opportunity. "
A BNP source told UNI that we are still optimistic that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will consider humanitarian issues in today's meeting of the Awami League.
It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting of the presidium of Awami League on Friday.
Meanwhile, people of various classes and professions, including civil society in Bangladesh, have voted in favor of sending Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment.
Three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has endured the repression of the current Awami League government but she has not compromised with injustice. Such remarks were made by Major Abh Abdul Mannan, a former minister in Khaleda Zia's government. He said the humanitarian issue should be looked into.
Abdul Mannan said, Khaleda Zia is very ill. If anything happens, it will become hot in Bangladesh.
He called upon the Prime Minister to send Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment.
UNI MAZ GNK