A total of 582 notable citizens, intellectuals, and professionals on Thursday urged the government to release former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and allow her better medical treatment abroad.

In a joint statement, they said, "Khaleda Zia is seriously ill and now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. The ailing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to the hospital when she fell sick on August 9.”

The doctors said that she is now at the crossroads of life and death. There is nothing left to treat her in the country.

Read:Govt inhumanely depriving Khaleda of treatment abroad: Fakhrul

"In order to save Khaleda Zia, it is necessary to take her to an advanced centre abroad for treatment. We call on the government to rise above politics and consider the humanitarian aspect and give her an opportunity to get better treatment abroad immediately," they added.

The signatories include Prof Anwarullah Chowdhury, Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, advocate AJ Mohmmad Ali, advocate Zainul Abedin, journalists Alamgir Mohiuddin, Ruhul Amin Gazi, prof Siraj Uddin Ahemd.

They also called on the government to release the convicted BNP chief on permanent bail through the court to facilitate her treatment abroad.

Read: Govt plotting to imprison Dr Yunus out of vengeance: Fakhrul  

Khaleda, a 78-year-old former prime minister, has long been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, eye problems and post-Covid complications.

On 8 February, 2018, Khaleda Zia landed in jail after she was sentenced to a five-year imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Her sentence was later extended to ten years by the High Court.

On 25 March 2020, the government freed her from jail for six months on conditions that she would stay at her home in the capital and would not leave the country.