At least 20 people, including a journalist, were injured in a clash between BNP activists and police at Alaipur in Natore town on Monday. Witnesses said BNP leaders and activists gathered in front of their party office at Alaipur around 10 am to hold a rally as part of their central program demanding its chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release for her treatment abroad. Read: Medical staffers go on flash strike at Natore Sadar Hospital over attack on guard At one stage, police obstructed them, triggering a clash. BNP men attacked police with brick chips and a chase and a counter-chase took place, leaving 20 people wounded. Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to bring the situation under control, said superintendent of police Liton Kumar Saha. After a seven-hour mass-hunger strike on Saturday, BNP announced to hold rallies across the country, including the capital, on Monday, demanding the immediate release of 'critically' ill Khaleda Zia for better treatment abroad. Read: UP member found dead in Natore Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the program while concluding their hunger-strike program in front of BNP’s Naya Paltan central office. He said their party’s all units of metropolitan cities, district towns, and upazila headquarters will hold rallies.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday threatened to wage a one-point movement seeking the fall of the government if Khaleda Zia is not allowed to go abroad for treatment. “Our leader Khaleda Zia has been staying in a hospital with critical health problems. Doctors are saying it’s now essential for her to receive treatment abroad but that permission is not given,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader urged the government to take necessary steps so that the BNP chief can receive treatment in any advanced centre outside the country. “We would like to say Begum Khaleda Zia be released immediately and given a scope to get treatment abroad. Otherwise, they‘ll have to face a one-point oust-government movement,” Fakhrul warned. Read: No scope in law for Khaleda’s treatment abroad, says Home Minister BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme, marking the 45th death anniversary of great national leader Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani. Fakhrul recalled Bhasani’s lifelong struggle for ensuring the rights of common and working people and said Bhasani is also one of the key leaders who played a major role in liberating the country. Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said people have been living in suffocating conditions. “People have got fed-up with the government as there is no democracy now and voting and other rights in the country.” Read: Khaleda’s condition improves slightly: Physician He alleged that Khaleda has been pushed towards death by sending her to jail “for no reason”. The BNP leader urged all to get united for ousting the current government through a mass movement. BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, among others, spoke at the programme.

The opinion of the Law Ministry on allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad was sent to the Home Ministry on Sunday. The document of the recommendation of the Law Minister was sent to the Home Ministry around 10 am, said Mohammad Rezaul Karim, public relations officer of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry. On Wednesday night, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment. Also read:Khaleda tests negative for Covid BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia finally tested negative for Covid-19, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus. “Madam (Khaleda) underwent the Covid test on Saturday and her report came out negative,” the BNP chief’s medical board member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB early Sunday. Another physician of her medical board said, “Madam is still being given oxygen support though her overall condition marked a little improvement. Her oxygen level is coming down to 90 percent when there's no oxygen support,” he said. The physician, wishing anonymity, said though the amount of fluid in her lungs has decreased, It's still being extracted from her lungs which is now a matter of concern. The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on Monday last. On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there. Also read:Khaleda’s fitness to go abroad to be assessed once permission given: Doctor Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was positive. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year. Besides, Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence was suspended as per section 114 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and now it will be examined whether granting her permission to go abroad is possible under the section of the CrPC. On Wednesday night, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment. Also read:Law Ministry’s opinion on taking Khaleda abroad soon: Anisul On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last. On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term. Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.  

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Monday demanded the relaxation of government restriction on 'ailing' Khaleda Zia's treatment abroad on humanitarian and moral grounds.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said their Chairperson Khaleda Zia informed them that she wants to go to any advanced health centre as she is not given proper treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).