Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said the demand for sending BNP chief Khaleda Zia abroad was raised with a political reason, not because of her health problems. “Who’ve said Khaleda Zia is in a critical condition? BNP central leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Almgir and Rizvi said. No physician has said yet that Khaleda Zia is critically ill,” said the minister while talking to reporters at the secretariat. Read:Pro-BNP lawyers’ memo over Khaleda’s treatment to be examined: Law Minister Physicians and Evercare Hospital authorities did not say anything about the necessity of sending her abroad for treatment and it is only BNP’s demand, Hasan Mahmud insisted. “It’s my question whether the BNP leaders have become doctors! It’s also a question whether the government will take any decision as per BNP leaders’ prescription,” he said. “We saw it in the past when Khaleda Zia fell sick; they always demanded the government send her abroad whether it is knee pain or high body temperature, they always demanded the same. It’s a politically motivated demand,” said the minister. They want to send Khaleda to London where Tarique Zia is staying so that she could continue politics from there despite being a convicted accused, the minister said. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on 13 November, six days after she had returned home from the hospital. The BNP chief's physicians said she has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, critical cardiac, kidney ophthalmological and dental complications. The hemoglobin level in her blood has also dropped. Read: No scope in law for Khaleda’s treatment abroad, says Home Minister On behalf of the family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on 11 November urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment. Law Minister Anisul Huq, however, recently said the BNP chairperson first has to make a fresh application by going back to jail to go abroad for treatment. A delegation of pro-BNP lawyers on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Law Minister Anisul Huq seeking the government’s permission to send ailing Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment. They argued that there is no legal obstruction for the government in allowing Khaleda to go abroad. The minister said that they will examine the memorandum.

BNP on Saturday announced to stage demonstrations across the country on March 11 (Wednesday) demanding release of Chairperson Khaleda Zia.