BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Tuesday said their party chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is struggling to survive for lack of advanced treatment.

"Our leader Begum Khaleda Zia was the Prime Minister for three terms, but that former Prime Minister is now slowly dying…,” he said.

Speaking at a meeting, the BNP leader said, “We’ve been talking about taking her abroad and requesting (the govt).  But a rogue is deaf to all good. They won’t allow Khaleda Zia to receive proper treatment.”

Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, renewed their party’s demand for allowing ailing Khaleda to go aboard for advanced treatment.

Also read: Khaleda’s kidneys, liver not functioning properly: Fakhrul

Nari O Shishu Odhikar Forum, a platform of BNP, arranged the programme at the party’s Nayapaltan central office demanding the release of its arrested leader Nipun Roy.

On Monday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda’s kidneys and liver are not functioning properly.

The 76-year-old BNP chief has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital since April 11.

Also read: Writ over Khaleda’s death of birth filed with ‘fake info’: BNP

Abbas described the Awami League government as a puppet one and said a corrupt quarter is pulling its strings.

“There’s no such (govt’s) organisation and agency that has not indulged in theft, robbery and plundering. They’ve siphoned off crores of taka abroad. Many private and government employees like PK Halder looted Bangladesh money...This quarter has kept this regime in power in fear of facing trial under a new government,” he observed.

The BNP leader warned that people are getting ready to ensure the fall of the current government by venting their pent-up anger on the streets.

Also read: Khaleda still at risk, needs treatment abroad: Fakhrul

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan alleged that the government has long been kept Nipun Roy behind bars unfairly.

“We know Nipun Roy has a little daughter. Separating a mother from her minor girl for a long time is inhumane politics. Release her immediately and let her go to her child,” he said.

Stating that the government could not split BNP by keeping Khaleda and many other party leaders in jail, Nazrul said there is no reason to think that BNP will be weakened or harmed by unjustly keeping Nipun in jail.