Khaleda Zia is physically alright, but she is being shown ill as part of BNP's political plan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud has said.

The minister made the remarks during an exchange of views with the leaders and journalists of Bangladesh Cholochitra Sangbadik Samity (Bachsas) at the Secretariat on Sunday.

"BNP's real objective is to make Khaleda Zia sick and make her appear sick. BNP has been doing it from the very first for gaining political interest," said the information minister.

"A few days ago, BNP leaders said that if Khaleda Zia is not taken abroad for treatment; her life will be in danger. But we have seen that Khaleda Zia is physically well with treatment in a local hospital. It proves that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's claim about the Awami League that it kept BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia sick to keep her away from politics is not true," added Hasan Mahmud.

Read: Govt depriving Khaleda of advanced treatment overseas: Khosru

Responding to a question, Hasan Mahmud said that whether BNP will participate in the election or not, is totally up to them, but I think that if any party continuously remains absent from the election, then the party is no longer a party of mass people. It turns into an organisation to protect self-interest.

"Actually, the acting chairman of the party wants to see BNP as his Lathial Bahini (hoodlum group). That is why he does not want BNP's participation in the elections. Now BNP's leaders and activists decide whether they will be used as a hoodlum group for someone or they will survive as a political party,” he said.

Among others, Bangladesh Cholochitra Sangbadik Samity (Bachsas) President Raju Alim, General Secretary Rimon Mahfuz, and Senior Vice President Anjan Rahman were present on this occasion.