Khaleda Zia
Khaleda hospitalised as she falls ill late at night
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka early Tuesday (June 13, 2023) as she fell sick.
The BNP chief left her Gulshan residence around 1:20am and reached the hospital around 1:40am, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
He said she was admitted to the Evercare Hospital as per the decision of her medical board.
“Madam (Khaleda) was taken to the hospital as she fell ill suddenly,” said BNP's health affairs secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam.
Also Read: Niko graft case: Khaleda Zia files petition to cancel charge framing
Party sources said Khaleda’s personal doctors, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and some senior leaders went to her residence at midnight after hearing the news of her illness.
Later, she was taken to the hospital as per the suggestion of the medical board formed earlier for her treatment.
The BNP chief’s younger brother Shamim Eskandar drove her to the Hospital in a private car.
She last went to the same hospital on April 29 last and received treatment there for five days.
Also Read: Khaleda Zia returns home from hospital after 5 days
The BNP chief received treatment at the hospital seven times since she was infected with Coronavirus in April, 2021. Khaleda, a 78-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart and eye problems.
Since her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
On June 10 last year, the BNP chief suffered a heart attack due to a 95 percent block in her left artery and a stent was placed there by removing the blockage at the same hospital the following day.
Also Read: Khaleda Zia under close observation at Evercare, says her physician Zahid
Doctors also found two more blocks in her blood vessels, but they could not remove those due to her health complications.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan house and will not leave the country.
Read more: Law Ministry for extending Khaleda’s jail term suspension without relaxing conditions
Khaleda Zia to return home from hospital this afternoon after 5 days
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will return to her residence from Evercare Hospital in the capital on Thursday afternoon after five days of treatment and medical check-ups for various ailments.
“ Khaleda Zia will leave the hospital for her Gulshan residence after 3 pm today,” the BNP chief’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
She was admitted to the hospital on Saturday night for some medical tests and required treatment.
Her medical team member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said the BNP chief was kept in a cabin under close observation of doctors and her condition improved a little as she was given treatment as per the advice of her medical board.
Khaleda, a 77-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart and eye problems.
Since her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
She visited the same hospital for health check-ups on February 27 last. Khaleda received treatment at the hospital six times since she was infected with Coronavirus in April 2021.
In November 2021, Khaleda Zia was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
Read more: Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for health check-ups
On June 10 last, the BNP chief suffered a heart attack due to a 95 percent block in her left artery and a stent was placed there by removing the blockage at the same hospital the following day.
Doctors also found two more blocks in her blood vessels, but they could not remove those due to her health complications.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan house and will not leave the country.
Law Ministry for extending Khaleda’s jail term suspension without relaxing conditions
The Law Ministry has given its opinion in favour of extending the period of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail sentences suspension by another six months on the existing conditions.
“The law ministry has given its opinion for extending Khaleda’s jail term suspension period by another six months on the existing conditions. Already the opinion of the ministry has been sent to the Home Ministry, said Law Minister Anisul Huq while talking to reporters at the secretariat.
The Law Ministry on Thursday received a petition seeking another extended suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term.
The BNP Chairperson’s younger brother Shamim Eskandar submitted a fresh application recently to the Home Ministry seeking a further extension to the suspended jail term of his sister as her release period will end on March 24 next.
Also read: Khaleda can do politics, but not participate in next general election: Anisul
In the application, he also urged the government to relax the conditions of the BNP chief’s release and allow her to go abroad for treatment.
In the previous applications, Khaleda’s family also sought permission to send her abroad for medical treatment.
This is the seventh time the BNP chief’s family sought an extension to her suspended jail term.
The government accepted all the previous applications but did not give Khaleda permission to go abroad for treatment.
On various occasions, the law minister explained that there was no legal scope to relax the conditions given by the government during Khaleda’s first release through an executive order.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Since then, her release term has been extended every six months following the family's plea.
The government has so far extended the convicted former prime minister’s conditional release six times, with the last extension on September 18, 2022.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty and convicted in another corruption case the same year.
The 77-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release in 2020. She also received treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital six times since she was infected with Covid-19 in April 2021
As per her physicians, Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.
They have long been saying that the BNP chief needs to receive treatment in any advanced medical centre abroad for her critical diseases, including liver cirrhosis.
Law Ministry receives petition for extending suspension of Khaleda’s jail term
The Law Ministry on Thursday received a petition seeking another extended suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail term sent by the Homer Ministry.
“The Law Ministry has received a file from the Home Ministry regarding the extension of Khaleda Zia's release term by suspending her sentence. We’ll send it back to the Home Ministry with our opinions,” Law Minister Anisul Huq told UNB.
Replying to a question about whether the BNP chief will be allowed to go abroad this time, the minister said, he still did not see the file. “I’ve not received the file yet. So, I can’t tell you what the file contains.”
He, however, said the government first released Khaleda in 2020 with two conditions and her release term was extended several times with those conditions. “I think the previous conditions will also remain this time.”
The BNP Chairperson younger brother Shamim Eskandar submitted a fresh application recently to the Home Ministry seeking a further extension to the suspended jail term of his sister as her release period will end on March 24 next.
In the application, he also urged the government to relax the conditions of the BNP chief’s release and allow her to go abroad for treatment.
In the previous applications, Khaleda’s family also sought permission to send her abroad for medical treatment.
This is the seventh time the BNP chief’s family sought an extension to her suspended jail term. The government accepted all the previous applications but did not give Khaleda permission to go abroad for treatment.
On various occasions, the law minister explained that there was no legal scope to relax the conditions given by the government during Khaleda’s first release through an executive order.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Since then, her release term has been extended every six months following the family's plea.
The government has so far extended the convicted former prime minister’s conditional release six times, with the last extension on September 18, 2022.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty and convicted in another corruption case the same year.
The 77-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release in 2020. She also received treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital six times since she was infected with Covid-19 in April 2021
As per her physicians, Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.
They have long been saying that the BNP chief needs to receive treatment in any advanced medical centre abroad for her critical diseases, including liver cirrhosis.
‘Tarique called Khaleda Zia 45 times the night before BDR mutiny,’ video posted by Sajeeb Wazed says
“The day before the BDR mutiny, Tarique Rahman called Khaleda Zia 45 times from London – between 1am to 6am – and asked her to leave her residence by 6am,” says a video posted yesterday by Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Posted on his verified Facebook profile, the video adds that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later presented the call records in the parliament. “The PM does not provide information on issues of national interest without evidence. BNP never responded to this,” it said.
On the 14th anniversary of the 2009 Pilkhana tragedy, the video raises several questions regarding the background of the BDR mutiny.
Expressing condolences to families who lost their near ones in the tragedy, Sajeeb Wazed wrote that centering the anniversary, “one political party” has unleashed a stream of disinformation campaign on social media.
This video posted on his profile “contains some facts” surrounding that killing spree, he added.
The video refers to Pakistan president’s then special envoy Zia Ispahani’s visit to Bangladesh before the BDR mutiny. Zia Ispahani requested the Government of Bangladesh not to initiate trial of the 1971 war criminals. On February 17, 2009, he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and formally proposed to stop the trial of war criminals on behalf of Pakistan, which the PM turned down.
Also read: Fakhrul questions investigation into 2009 BDR mutiny
Zia Ispahani also met Khaleda Zia during his visit. The video questions the purpose of the meeting, and adds, “On whose call did Zia Ispahani come to Bangladesh?”
“Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed attempted to fly out of the country just four days before the BDR mutiny,” the video says. However, he was turned back by the law enforcers at the airport. “What was his motive for leaving the country?” – it asks.
The video also says that many of the convicts, who confessed to involvement in the BDR mutiny, had been recruited during the BNP government’s tenure. “Twenty-two absconding BDR personnel were arrested from Tangail, 14 of them managed their job recommendation from BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, who was convicted in the August 21 grenade attack case,” it says.
“The BNP-Jamaat alliance made a desperate bid to cling to power in 2006. The dark side of the BNP-Jamaat government was divulged by a handful of high-ups in the armed forces, including Moeen U Ahmed and Sadik Hasan Rumi,” the video says.
“Most of the deceased, including BDR Chief Major General Shakil Ahmed and Colonel Gulzar Uddin Ahmad, played a remarkable role in conducting the 2008 election in a free and fair manner,” it says.
The Pilkhana massacre took place just after the formation of the Awami League government and a total of 78, including 57 seasoned armed forces officials and their family members, were gunned down. “This irreparable loss was incurred by not just the armed forces but the entire nation as well. The newly-formed Awami League government faced the biggest blow,” the video said.
Fakhrul lashes out at Somoy TV for report on conviction of Khaleda, Tarique
Amidst several recent media reports quoting Transparency International Bangladesh’s Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman as saying that keeping Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman – sentenced by the court – in BNP’s top leadership “contradicts” the party’s 27-point outline for state reform, which includes stance against corruption, and is a sign of “moral decay”, BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has lashed out at Somoy TV for “running a story” on the issue.
Featuring the BNP leader’s statement, Somoy TV today again relayed the earlier story — defending its position and justification behind the report which also included references to the testimony of a US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent in a money-laundering case against Tarique Rahman.
“That report on our leaders — Tarique Rahman and Begum Zia — is like back-stabbing our democratic movement against the government. As we continue our movement to restore democracy, they should abstain from airing such reports,” Fakhrul said about Somoy TV at a press conference.
While coming down hard on the TV channel, Fakhrul also admitted that “the channel is a mainstream news outlet and is accepted by people of the country as credible.”
Though the BNP leader claimed that no other news outlet except Somoy TV carried such report, a number of media houses, including Shomoyer Alo, UNB and Desh TV, featured the TIB executive director’s remarks on the party.
This development comes after a Somoy TV journalist filed a complaint against BNP activists for “assaulting” him when he was covering the party’s rally held in Nayapaltan, Dhaka on January 16, 2023.
Read more: Media being regulated with various laws: Fakhrul
The Somoy TV report that has seemingly drawn the ire of the BNP leader highlights that both Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia were sentenced by courts. A Dhaka court recently asked the police to confiscate all assets of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The report also makes reference to the law on whether those convicted of corruption can participate in elections.
It also features the TIB executive director observing that BNP is talking about taking a bold position against corruption and at the same time running the party with convicts in top leadership.
The report mostly dwells on the fate of the party under the circumstances.
Referring to BNP’s 27 points, the TIB executive director had earlier wondered whether the party had the capacity to implement them.
“Considering BNP’s history and its experience with people of the country, it can be said that political parties make manifestos. When they come to power, the picture is different, however. In that sense, this is a wish list. Although, many of the issues mentioned are important for Bangladesh,” he said.
In November, 2011, an FBI agent testified in the Tk 20.41 crore money-laundering case filed against BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman and his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun. This was the first time that a US FBI agent testified before a court in Bangladesh.
Debra Laprevotte, a supervisory special agent of the FBI, narrated before a Dhaka court how she had tracked down the money allegedly laundered by Tarique Rahman and Mamun to a bank account in Singapore.
Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. She was convicted in a second corruption case later.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul isn't the type to balk at reporters' questions. Except this one.
Amid the pandemic, the government suspended her jail term for six months through an executive order on March 25, 2020. The government extended her conditional release in the two corruption cases several times.
Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia turned Bangladesh into a ‘nation of beggars’: PM
Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia turned Bangladesh into a “nation of beggars” after 1975, PM Sheikh Hasina said today.
Sheikh Hasina said this during her closing remarks while exchanging greetings with party leaders and activists at Ganabhaban after she was reelected AL President for the 10th consecutive term.
When AL came to power, Bangladesh was free of “monga” (famine-like situation), she said. “Today we have achieved self-sufficiency in food production.”
Sheikh Hasina said Awami League is an organization formed by the hands of the Father of the Nation and the party was born through movements for establishing rights of the people. AL must continue that tradition, she told party leaders and activists.
Read more: Anti-liberation forces and killers of Bangabandhu are always trying to make Bangladesh a ‘failed state’: PM to AL activists
The AL chief asked her party's affluent members to come forward in helping the dedicated but insolvent workers in their respective areas.
She said there are many insolvent activists in AL who are dedicated to politics, even if it means selling off their ancestral land, but never desired anything.
Sheikh Hasina said many, including Ayub Khan, Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia, wanted to destroy AL but could not as the party has so many dedicated activists.
Talking about the global economic downturn, she said her government is trying its best to continue keeping the economy vibrant and is exercising austerity in undertaking and implementing development projects.
"We're putting importance on the projects which are very essential. And we are completing the implementation of the projects quickly which would ensure benefits for the people," she said.
Read more: Accepted leadership of the party considering the volatile global economy: PM Hasina
The premier said now her government's goal is to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country — turning it into 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041.
She said every community up to the grassroots level of the country would turn into a smart community by using digital devices and online platforms.
"Everyone will be adept at using computers and technology," said the PM, adding that smart and digital devices will be used in every sector including economic activities, healthcare services, education and agriculture.
‘They’re not intellectuals, rather intellectually disabled’
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said rumours are being spread that there is no money in the banks. “We are not facing problems by the grace of Allah. There is money in every bank,” she said.
She was addressing the 30th National Council of BCL, the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League, at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
The PM said a quarter with vested interest wants to mislead people. “We have created ‘Digital Bangladesh’, but they are using it against us,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina harshly criticised a section of intellectuals and dignitaries who have “joined hands with BNP to oust the government.”
Read more: ‘Just mention BNP-Jamaat’s misdeeds under their propaganda posts on social media’
“Many knowledgeable persons and dignitaries have joined hands with BNP – giving us theories and lectures on democracy… Many say that they are not intellectuals, rather intellectually disabled,” she said.
She said those intellectuals have accepting a convict – sentenced on charges of August 21 grenade attack, money laundering and arms smuggling – as their leader.
“My question is, why this attempt to snatch the rights of people by joining hands with such criminals?” – she asked.
“Awami League believes in democracy and the power of people. So, AL handed over power in a peaceful manner,” she said, criticizing Khaleda Zia for holding an election with “no voters” on February 15, 1996.
Read more: Women entrepreneurs can avail special opportunities in economic zones: PM
Khaleda Zia was forced to step down in face of public movement after that lopsided election, she said, adding that BNP leaders should not forget that.
Sheikh Hasina, also AL president, urged students including BCL activists to groom themselves as worthy citizens of Bangladesh so that they can contribute to the continuation of development.
She asked the BCL leaders and activists to create public opinion so that killers and anti-liberation forces including razakar and Al-Badr cannot ever come to power in the country.
The PM asked meritorious students among the BCL to pursue their studies properly, including technical education, and sit for PSC examination as an efficient administration is needed to govern the country.
Read More: Dhaka, Delhi agree on security, border management to strengthen cooperation
“Yes, we need politics. But at the same time, we need efficient administration and technical education,” she said. Sheikh Hasina extended her thanks to BCL for standing by the people during every national crisis, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent flood in Sylhet region.
BNP demands withdrawal of check post outside Khaleda’s house
BNP on Sunday demanded the withdrawal of the check post set up by the police in front of party chairperson Khaleda Zia's house in the city’s Gulshan area.
“Police blocked the area by setting up a check post in the same style of keeping the sand-loaded trucks in front of our leader Khaleda Zia. This is another new level of oppression on her,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also strongly condemned and protested such a bad attitude of the Awami League government.
Read more: 75 sued over crude bomb blast in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
“I strongly demand the removal of the check posts and barricade immediately from in front of the house of Begum Khaleda Zia," the BNP leader said.
Earlier on Saturday night, Police put up a check post near BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s home at Gulshan in Dhaka.
Police authorities, however, said the check post was part of a special drive to arrest drug peddlers, militants, and criminals in the city.
Khaleda, a three-time former prime minister, has been staying at her Gulshan residence, Firoza, since she was freed on March 25, 2020, through an executive order by the government suspending her sentences in two graft cases.
Read more: No to Suhrawardy Udyan, but BNP will consider other rally venue suggestions from govt: Fakhrul
Fakhrul alleged that the government is constantly trying to kill a popular leader like Khaleda by keeping her imprisoned in ‘false’ cases and blocking all ways of treatment.
He also accused the government of violating human rights and keeping Khaleda under mental stress by blocking her residence and threatening to send her to jail.
No question of Khaleda Zia joining Dec 10 rally: BNP
Though the country’s political landscape has become overheated with some opposition leaders’ fiery comments about the participation of Khaleda Zia in her party’s much-talked-about rally in the capital on December 10, BNP senior leaders say they never had any plan to take her to their programme.
They also said their December-10 rally in the capital is similar to 9 other divisional programmes of BNP where party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address as chief guest and announce the party’s next course of action.
However, the party leaders are determined to hold the rally at Nayapaltan in front of their party headquarters instead of Suhrawardy Udyan.
The BNP senior leaders said they want to hold the rally peacefully avoiding any type of chaos as they will initiate the second phase of the movement to realise their demand for a polls-time neutral government and the resignation of the government after the December-10 programme.
“We don’t have any different plan about our Dhaka rally. It’s like other divisional rallies. I don’t know why the ruling party leaders and some media are talking about our chairperson’s participation in the rally. Our standing committee never discussed this issue and we never had any such plan,” said BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Talking to UNB, he said they are moving ahead with a plan for a peaceful gathering to reach their desired goal.
He said they will not give anyone any scope to divert their movement to a a different direction by creating any trouble. “We’ll neither fall into Awami League’s trap nor take any imprudent move.”
Political mercury has started rising since Dhaka North City unit BNP convener Aman Ullah Aman at a programme on October 8 last announced that the country will run as per the directives of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman after December 10.
Read more: If Khaleda joins BNP’s Dec 10 rally, court will take steps: Home Minister
Two days later, BNP chairperson’s adviser Zainul Abedin Farroque said Khaleda will join the December -10 rally and later some other party low-tier leaders echoed Aman and Farroque.
BNP senior leaders, however, said the remarks of Aman and Farroque about Khaleda are their personal opinions.
Amid such speculation, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday warned that the court will take steps if Khaleda, who has been temporarily freed from jail on conditions, attends the party's December 10 rally in Dhaka.
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday at a programme in Narayanganj said Khaleda was freed suspending her sentence on conditions as her family submitted an application saying she was too sick to move.
“If Khaleda Zia now joins BNP’s rally on December 10, then it’ll be proved that what was written in her family’s application was false,” he said.
In the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentence on 25 March 2020.
The government extended her conditional release from jail in the two corruption cases several times. The 76-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release from jail.
BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. The party has already held eight divisional rallies while the 9th rally will be held In Rajshahi on Saturday. The BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a huge mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
Though the party sought permission to hold the rally at Nayapaltan, the government has permitted it to hold the programme at Suhrawardy Udyan on 26 conditions.
Contacted, BNP’s Dhaka south city unit BNP convener Abdus Salam said Khaleda’s participation in the Dhaka rally is nothing but speculation by media and the ruling party leaders. “No one of our responsible leaders talked about it.”
He said they are taking allout preparations to make the rally a success with the participation of lakhs of people. “It’ll surely be a peaceful programme. We’ll remain alert about all types of plots and provocations to foil our programme.”
Read more: BNP divisional rally begins at packed Barishal venue
BNP Publicity Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie said the ruling party leaders are making comments involving Khaleda with the rally as part of their political motive to mislead people.
“Madam (Khaleda) remains under house arrest and she is very sick. We never said she would take part in our programme. But the government is playing a bad game over the issue”
“We’ll also hold the rally in the capital peacefully and then return homes. We have no other plans.”
During their meeting with Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Thursday, the BNP leader said they urged him to cooperate with BNP to hold the rally at Nayapaltan. “We're determined to hold the rally at Nayapaltan. We’ve no other plan about any venue.”