BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has gone to Singapore on Thursday (August 24, 2023) morning for medical treatment. Fakhrul, along with his wife Rahat Ara Begum and daughter Mirza Safaruh, left Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport via a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight around 8:30 am, his personal secretary M Yunus Ali told UNB. He said Fakhrul will receive treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for various health issues, including a blockage in the nerve in his neck. Besides, Yunus said the BNP leader’s wife has an appointment with a doctor at the National University Hospital. Read more: BNP is instigating militant groups ahead of national election: Quader He, however, could not say when the BNP secretary general would return to Dhaka. After being released from jail in 2015, Fakhrul went to Singapore for treatment, where the issue in his internal carotid artery was detected. Since then, he has gone to Singapore every year for follow-up treatment. Earlier this year, in February, the 76-year-old BNP secretary general went to Singapore for a medical checkup. Read more: BNP is main sponsor of militants in Bangladesh: Information Minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the physicians to dedicate themselves to extensively serve the general people and behave well with patients. “I would like to request the doctors to dedicate themselves more extensively in providing healthcare services to the general and poor people of the country. You’ll have to go to villages and take care of the rural people. You’ll have to behave well with them,” she said. The premier said this while inaugurating the newly constructed Super Specialized Hospital in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Read Specialized Hospital starts journey in Ukhiya The country’s first super specialized hospital will be an alternative option for many Bangladeshis opting to go abroad for treatment.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad returned home from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, on Monday after nearly seven and a half months of stay there for medical treatment. She reached Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport around 12 noon, said her assistant private secretary Md Mamum Hasan. Read:Raushon doing well, set to return home Monday: GM Quader Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader along with the party’s senior leaders welcomed the opposition leader at the airport. Earlier on Sunday, GM Quader said Raushon, the chief patron of the Jatiya Party, was now doing well as her physical condition improved a lot. Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad MP (Rangpur-3) who along with his wife Mahima Ershad accompanied Raushon in Bangkok throughout her stay there said his mother is now fine, but very weak. “She has problems in her legs and still can’t walk properly. It may take time for her to gain back her strength. She needs more physiotherapy,” he said. Read:Raushon Ershad taken to Bangkok for better treatment Saad said Raushon will also go to Bangkok for follow-up treatment on July 4 next. On November 5 last year, Raushon was flown to Thailand by an air ambulance as her health condition turned critical. She has been receiving treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital since then. Earlier, Raushon Ershad, 78, underwent treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as she fell ill seriously due to old age complications.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad is set to return home from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, on Monday after nearly seven and a half months of stay there for medical treatment. She is scheduled to reach Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport at 12:10pm, said Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader who returned home from Thailand on Sunday noon. Read:Raushon Ershad taken to Bangkok for better treatment He said Raushon, also the chief patron of the Jatiya Party, is now doing well. “Her physical condition has improved a lot,” the Jatiya Party Chairman said. He asked party leaders and activists who are not preoccupied to be present at the airport by 12 pm to welcome Raushon. Earlier on Thursday, GM Quader went to Thailand to visit Raushon. Contacted, her son Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad MP (Rangpur-3) who along with his wife Mahima Ershad has been accompanying Raushon in Bangkok since she went there said her mother is now fine, but very weak. “She has problems in her legs and still can’t walk properly. It may take time for her to gain back her strength. She needs more physiotherapy,” he said. Read: Eric announces new JaPa committee making Raushon chairman Saad said Raushon will also go to Bangkok for follow-up treatment on July 5 next. On November 5 last year, Raushon was flown to Thailand by an air ambulance as her health condition turned critical. She has been receiving treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital since then. Earlier, Raushon Ershad, 78, underwent treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as she fell ill seriously due to old age complications.

Pro-BNP lawyers on Tuesday threatened to go for a movement if the government does not let Khaleda Zia go abroad for medical treatment by Saturday next. "We’re giving the government four days--Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (to meet our demand). Or else, we lawyers will go on a hunger-strike across the country on Sunday,” said advocate Fazlur Rahman, member secretary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (BJAF). Speaking at a rally, he also warned that they will gradually intensify the movement to force the government to accept their demand. Read:Govt looking into legal options to let Khaleda go abroad: Law Minister “Time will come when the people of the country will hit the streets with processions, and the streets will see the heat of the fire. And that day is not far away. Let's start a movement to take Khaleda Zia abroad,” Rahman said. BJAF arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding Khaleda’s medical care abroad. Fazlur Rahman urged Law Minister Anisul Huq to find out a legal option to send Khaleda out of the country for treatment. “The law is not bigger than human life.” Speaking at the programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government can allow the BNP chief to go abroad for treatment under section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). “The usurper government, not the law, is an obstacle here.”

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday said the government is assessing whether there is any legal option to allow BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment. “I think the decision on it (application of Khaleda’s family) should come after considering overall aspects and assessing whether there any legal scope,” he said. Read:Khaleda free, not in govt custody: Law Minister Talking to reporters after attending an event at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in the capital, the minister said they are also careful so that the law is not violated in this regard. “As there haven many applications, including from lawyers, I think it is appropriate to come to a well-thought-out decision after examining all aspects and whether any scope to do something in any way,” he added. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13. The BNP chief’s medical board members on November 28 said she immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 seeking permission to take her abroad for treatment. Though the government earlier twice turned down such applications, it is taking time to dispose of the fresh plea of the BNP chief’s family.  On November 28, the Law Minister told parliament that Khaleda is now free as she is not in government custody. Read:Pro-BNP lawyers’ memo over Khaleda’s treatment to be examined: Law Minister He also said as Khaleda was temporarily released under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure based on some conditions, including not leaving the country, there is no provision in the law to allow her to go abroad now until she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail. BNP leaders and pro-BNP lawyers, however, have long been arguing that the government has the unlimited authority to take any decision in this regard under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedures. The party has also been observing various programmes since November 25 demanding that the BNP chief be allowed to go abroad as there is no advanced cnetre in Bangladesh to treat her liver cirrhosis problem.

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday said there is no legal scope in the present situation to allow ailing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment. “There’s no scope in the law. They can rebuke me as much as they wish but it doesn’t matter to me… I’ll follow the law,” he said. The law minister made the remark as a demand was placed by BNP MP Gulam Mohammad Siraj (Bogura-6) in Parliament on point-of-order for allowing Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment. Read: Khaleda fighting for life: Fakhrul Pointing at Khaleda Zia, Anisul Huq said a convicted person was released suspending her sentence as per section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC) but there is no provision to reconsider an already disposed appeal in the section. The minister said Khaleda Zia is getting treatment properly as per their statements. “It is up to them whether they’re happy or not with the treatment,” he added. He said the BNP leaders argued that Khaleda Zia can be released for receiving treatment abroad on humanitarian grounds and raised some previous instances in this regard saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was allowed to go abroad in 2007-2008 despite having lawsuits against her. “But it’s not true as the Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) has never been convicted in any case,” he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she has given enough facilities to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia by allowing her to stay in her residence and receive medical treatment. “She (Khaleda) has been allowed to stay in her residence and receive medical treatment by exercising the executive authority I have. The rest is a legal matter,” she said, replying to a question if she will take any initiative for the treatment of ailing Khaleda Zia. Read:Fuel prices hiked in line with global market: PM The Prime Minister was speaking at a press conference at her Ganobhaban in the afternoon on the outcome of her recent two-week visit to the United Kingdoms and France.  Some journalists were also connected to the event virtually from the Prime Minister’s Office. “Isn’t it enough that Khaleda Zia was allowed to stay in her residence instead of jail and receive treatment there?” said the PM. In a counter question, she asked the journalist whether he would receive a person with a garland who had tried to kill him and rewarded the killers of his family members by giving those jobs in different missions abroad and by not bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said the government will consider BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s appeal to go abroad for medical treatment if she makes a fresh petition after returning to jail. “No fresh order can be given over a solved petition anymore. If she applies again after going to jail, then we will consider it. But there is no scope to consider any fresh step under the section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in these circumstances,” he told Parliament. The Law Minister said this replying to the remarks of BNP MP Rumeen Farhana during the discussion over a proposal to send the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Bill, 2021 to the Scrutiny Committee. Read: Khaleda critically ill, says Fakhrul During the discussion, Rumeen demanded the government allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment considering her physical condition. The BNP MP said the government has the authority to give Khaleda Zia the scope under section 401 of CrPC. Anisul Huq suggested Rumeen Farhana to see the decisions given under the same section of CrPC in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

Denmark’s team doctor said Sunday that Christian Eriksen’s heart stopped and that “he was gone” before being resuscitated with a defibrillator at the European Championship. Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 group game against Finland on Saturday and was given lengthy medical treatment before regaining consciousness. “He was gone. And we did cardiac resuscitation. And it was cardiac arrest,” said team doctor Morten Boesen, who led the work in giving Eriksen treatment on the field. “How close were we? I don’t know. We got him back after one defib. That’s quite fast.” Eriksen was in stable condition at a Copenhagen hospital and had spoken to teammates via video link on Sunday, team officials said. Read:England players booed for taking a knee despite plea by team Boesen said it was still unclear what caused the midfielder’s collapse. “I’m not cardiologist, so the details about why it happened and further, I will leave to the experts,” he said. He also said the 29-year-old Eriksen may not have survived had the game not been played at a major soccer tournament with top-class medical equipment at hand. “That was completely decisive, I think,” Boesen said. “The time from when it happens to when he receives help is the critical factor, and that time was short. That was decisive.” Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said when he spoke to Eriksen, the Inter Milan midfielder was more concerned about his teammates’ well being than his own. Read:Finland beats Denmark at Euro 2020 after Eriksen's collapse “He said ‘I don’t remember much but I’m more concerned about you guys. How are you doing?’” Hjulmand said. ”That’s typical Christian. … It was good to see him smile.” The Danish players and team staff were being given crisis management assistance as they process the incident. Eriksen fell face-forward to the ground late in the first half and his teammates formed a protective circle around him while the medics gave him treatment. The game was suspended for about 90 minutes before resuming. Finland won 1-0 after scoring in the second half. Denmark canceled a planned training session on Sunday but Hjulmand said they would try to go back to their normal routines on Monday. He insisted the players are determined to finish the tournament, with Denmark playing Belgium next in Group B on Thursday. “(Eriksen) would like for us to play,” Hjulmand said. “We are trying to get back to some normality tomorrow. That is completely in line with what the psychologists are saying, and the way I want to try to lead this group forward.” Read:Eriksen in stable condition, Euro 2020 match resumes The decision to restart the game on Saturday has been heavily criticized by many in Denmark, including former players Peter Schmeichel and Michael Laudrup. UEFA gave Denmark the option to resume the game Sunday at noon but the players opted to finish it Saturday evening instead. A later date was not possible because Finland plays its second group game on Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Russia. Hjulmand said he remained proud of his players for finishing the game, but that he now had second thoughts about not insisting it should have been called off. “In hindsight, I wonder if I could have done something differently,” Hjulmand said. “Because when I look back, I honestly do not think we should have been back on the field. I am so proud that the players were able to mobilize and give it a try. It was a huge effort. But I have a guilty conscience that we were back out there.”