Unlike previous years, BNP put in greater efforts in 2021 to make people feel its presence, but Khaleda Zia’s party still faces an uphill task to cast any impact on the political landscape ahead of the 2023 national election, according to political analysts. As the nature of the game has changed, they said, BNP must have a strategic plan to make a turnaround. “BNP should have done something that would have surprised people instead of only focusing on sending Khaleda abroad for medical treatment. People want a strong movement, BNP should concentrate on it,” said Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury. Professor Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University (USA), said BNP needs to bring its house in order and develop a strategy for the future. Read: Get ready for movement with shrouds on heads: BNP to followers ‘Nothing tangible’ in 2021 On the first day of 2021, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had said they were taking a fresh vow to completely free Khaleda Zia from jail and ‘restore’ democracy in the country through a mass upsurge by uniting the country’s people and political parties, but the party could not do much to live up to its pledge. The party held various street programmes, including rallies and human chains, in protest against the price hike of essentials, a flawed election system, different incidents, demanding Khaleda’s treatment abroad all over the year. The party marked the seventh anniversary of the 10th parliament election day-- January 5, 2014 -- by hoisting flags at its offices across the country.

Dhaka, Dec 15 (UNB) - BNP is going to hold rallies in 32 districts from December 22 to force the government to allow its chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced medical treatment. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes on Wednesday after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. “We’ve decided to hold rallies at district level demanding that our leader Khaleda Zia be released and sent abroad for advanced treatment. The programmes will begin from December 22 and continue until December 30,” he said. Read: Govt trying to ‘wipe out’ Liberation War spirit: BNP He said they also formed different teams comprising senior leaders to hold the rallies successfully. As part of the programmes, the party will hold six rallies each day on December 22, 24 and 26 while seven rallies each day on December 28 and December 30. On December 22, six rallies will be held in Tangail, Habiganj, Jashore, Bogura, Dinajpur and Brahmanbaria. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will formally inaugurate the programmes by addressing the rally in Tangail on December 22. Earlier, BNP observed human chains, mass-hunger strikes, rallies and submission of memorandums to DC offices across the country to push for the same demand. BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, its Dhaka south city convener Abdus Salam and north city convener Amanullah Aman were, among others, present at the meeting. 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. Read: Khaleda being deprived of human rights: BNP The BNP chief's physicians said she has been suffering from liver cirrhosis and her doctors said she needs to go abroad immediately for advanced treatment. 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.

BNP on Sunday warned that millions of people will take to the streets if Khaleda Zia is not allowed to go abroad for advanced treatment. ”Crores of people will take to the streets if you don’t free our leader Khaleda Zia and restore democracy. Take steps to send her (Khaleda) abroad without any delay in your own interest,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a rally, he alleged that the government is “conspiring” to put Bangladesh’s existence at stake with its efforts to kill Khaleda without treatment. “Free our leader so that she can go abroad for treatment and return home after recovery. Or else, you won’t even find the escape route and you must stand in people’s court.” Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad. Also read: BNP to launch oust-govt movement seeking Khaleda’s treatment abroad Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia was kept for over two years in a damp, abandoned and shabby building of the Old Dhaka Central Jail that caused her serious illness. “This illness has reached such a level that doctors at Evercare Hospital and other physicians are saying it will be difficult to save her life if she's not taken to any advanced medical centre for treatment.” Students’ red card Fakhrul said students took to the streets against the government’s failure to prevent road chaos. “I saw in the newspaper, they (students) showed a red card to the government. What’s the reason for the boys to take to the streets? It’s because you did not keep your word!” He said the government had assured the students of maintaining discipline on the road when they waged the road safety movement. “You can't manage roads properly. This is your failure.” The BNP leader said people are extremely angry with the government as it has no control over anything while people’s lives have no value. AL scared of BNP’s ghost Fakhrul said his ruling party counterpart Obaidul Quader never sees anything but the ghost of BNP. “He always talks about BNP. He experiences bad dreams over BNP.” The BNP leader said though Obaidul Quader does not see the existence of BNP, he always makes various comments on BNP out of fear of the party. He called upon the leaders and activists of Sramik Dal to become more active and motivate their fellow workers to be vocal to establish their rights. Also read: Govt has to take responsibility if Khaleda faces bad fate: BNP Changing election system Fakhrul said many people died in violence centring the recent Union Parishad polls as the government has destroyed the election system. He said people do not go to polling stations to cast their votes for lack of a fair and credible election. “The current election system must be changed. Removing the current Election Commission is not enough as the government will also have to be removed. A polls-time neutral government must be formed to hold the next election under an impartial election commission for establishing a government with people’s votes,” the BNP leader said. Though the government talks about development, Fakhrul said there is no improvement in the condition of common people, “Rather the number of poor has become six crores from two crores. “That’s why we, the country’s people, want a change in power. This government must be removed.“ 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.

BNP on Saturday threatened to launch a movement to oust the government if it does not immediately allow Khaleda Zia to take abroad for advanced medical care. "We would like to clearly ask the government to free our leader Khaleda Zia and take steps for sending her abroad for treatment without buying further time,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told in a rally. Otherwise, he said, people will not forgive the government. “A movement to ensure your (govt’s) fall will begin and a pro-people government will be established removing you from power.” Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Also read: Govt has to take responsibility if Khaleda faces bad fate: BNP Fakhrul said the government is not willing to give Khaleda permission to go to any advanced medical centre overseas for treatment as it thinks their barrier to staying in power will be removed if she dies. "You people rest assured that won’t happen. They thought BNP would have vanished through the killing of Ziaur Rahman. It didn’t happen. Khaleda Zia has rightly chosen her successor, our acting chairman Tarique Rahman, and the party is moving forward under his leadership,” the BNP secretary general said. “Awami League’s existence still remains intact as Khaleda Zia is alive,” Fakhrul said, adding Khaleda must be brought back to politics for restoring democracy, people’s lost rights and establishing good governance in the country. Recalling Khaleda Zia’s contributions to the country and her long struggle for democracy, he said there is no other living leader in Bangladesh who made such huge sacrifices like Khaleda. The BNP leader said many Chhatra Dal leaders have been subjected to enforced disappearance, killing and repression under the rule of the current government. “The students and Chhatra Dal wake up again to restore people’s democratic rights, protect the country’s independence and sovereignty. Our leader Khaleda Zia's treatment abroad must be ensured through the movement.” He called upon the Chhatra Dal leaders and activists to get ready for making any type of sacrifice to make their current movement a success. 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. Also read: People won’t tolerate if Khaleda dies “without treatment”: BNP 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. However, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government will consider Khaleda Zia’s appeal if she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail.

A group of pro-BNP journalists on Monday called upon the country’s apex court to grant bail to ‘critically’ ill BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at its own initiative paving the way for her advanced medical care abroad. They made the call while addressing a human-chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Pro-BNP factions of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of journalists (DUJ) arranged the programme demanding Khaleda’s treatment abroad. Speaking at the programme, former BFUJ president Shawkat Mahmud alleged that Khaleda has been pushed towards death by keeping her in jail after convicting her in ‘false’ cases. Also read: Khaleda can fly in any foreign doctor for treatment: FM “She was not given proper treatment there (in jail). We think she fell sick because of political vengeance. She’s now in between life and death. So, we urge the judges of the High Court to grant bail to Khaleda Zia on their own initiative,” he said. Shawkat said the apex court has the authority to give bail to Khaleda as it did the same thing in the past regarding some ministers. He also called upon the journalists to raise their voice to mount pressure on the government to allow the BNP chief to go abroad. “If necessary, we’ll take to the streets to realise the demand.” Jatiya Press Club Vice-President Poet Hasan Hafiz said it is unfortunate that a former prime minister is being deprived of receiving advanced medical care overseas. He also crticised the Awami League leaders for what he said making ‘derogatory' comments about Khaleda’s illness. “Such an attitude of the ruling party in an independent country can’t be accepted. There’s still time for the ruling party to release Khaleda Zia for treatment. I hope good sense will prevail upon them.” Hasan Hafiz thanked renowned Poet Nirmalendu Goon as he gave a status on Facebook wishing recovery of the BNP chief. “I appreciate Nirmalendu Goon for his courage. It has reflected that those who have a minimum conscience can’t support the inhuman and brutal attitude (towards Khaleda),” he observed. DUJ president Kader Gani Chowdhury said it touched the hearts of many people the way Khaleda’s doctors narrated her critical health condition on Sunday. Recalling Khaleda’s many contributions to the country, he alleged that efforts are on to kill the BNP chief in a planned way. “Laws are enacted not to annihilate anyone, but to save lives, maintain law and order and protect civilization. On behalf of the journalist community, we would like to urge the court to take initiatives to protect the life of Begum Khaleda Zia,” Gani said. Also read: Khaleda free, not in govt custody: Law Minister BFUJ President M Abdullah said people have got worried hearing the briefing of doctors on Khaleda’s fragile health condition. We, the journalist community, urge the government to take steps for sending Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on 13 November. Her medical board members on Sunday said Khaleda urgently needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday suspected that their party chairperson Khaleda might have been subjected to slow-poisoning during her stay in Old Dhaka Central Jail. “As part of a plot hatched during the 1/11 changeover, she (Khaleda) was sent to jail by convicting her in false cases.  She was kept for about two years in an abandoned damp building of the Old Dhaka’s Central Jail where rats used to run around,” he said. Speaking at a rally, he said the BNP chief was later taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from the jail, but she was not given proper treatment there. “Many people have this question now: was there any arrangement for slow-poisoning Khaleda Zia on that day? We want to know this clearly. Nothing is impossible for them (govt).” Also read: Rumour mill goes into overdrive over Khaleda’s health: Fakhrul He said it is possible to do anything bad for the government when it could assume power by indulging in ‘vote robbery’ the night before the voting day, filing false cases against 35 lakh people, gunning down and maiming the pro-democracy leaders and activists, and making disappear around 500 opposition leaders and activists. Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding Khaleda's treatment abroad. Fakhrul called upon all, including their party leaders and activists, to take to the streets to force the government to allow Khaleda to go abroad. “Khaleda Zia is now fighting for her life. Shall we stay indoors? We must put in our all-out efforts to save her life,” he said. The BNP leader warned that the consequences will be dire if the government does not allow Khaleda to go abroad. "Let's be united in a stronger way and intensify our movement.” Fakhrul said doctors at Evercare Hospital are saying they have no more capacity to treat the BNP chief as her condition turned so much critical. ”They’ve clearly said she (Khaleda) needs to be sent abroad immediately for her treatment. But Sheikh Hasina (PM) does not want to pay heed to it out of her vengeance. She’s conspiring to eliminate Khaleda Zia’s life, not only to remove her from politics,” he said. The BNP leader said they know there has been international pressure on the government to send Khaleda abroad, but the Prime Minister is not willing to do so. Also read: Let Khaleda go abroad or face oust-govt movement: Fakhrul 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. 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.

Over 2,500 pro-BNP journalists on Wednesday demanded the government let BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia go abroad for advanced treatment on humanitarian grounds. “Doctors at Evercare Hospital said she (Khaleda) has reached a condition of life and death. There’s nothing left in the country to treat her,” said a statement issued by 2,582 pro-BNP journalists. They said the BNP chief needs to be taken to an advanced medical centre abroad for treatment to save her life. “We urge the government to give her a scope to receive treatment abroad immediately on humanitarian grounds rising above politics.” The journalists said the statements of the chief of Khaleda’s personal physician team about her health condition are a matter of deep concern. Read: Rumour mill goes into overdrive over Khaleda’s health: Fakhrul Being a top politician of the country, a former prime minister, a senior citizen, a woman as well as a prisoner, they said getting proper treatment is part of Khaleda’s minimum human rights. “As a nation, it’s our responsibility and duty to ensure her fundamental rights and justice. We, therefore, urge the government to give her an opportunity for advanced treatment abroad by freeing her on permanent bail through the court,” the journalists said. Considering Khaleda’s overall contributions and the difficult period of her old age, they hoped that the government would show sympathetic behavior towards her rising above politics. Read: Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP announces 8-day programme The journalists also said the country’s people will take it positively if the government takes steps for Khaleda’s treatment abroad. The signatories to the statement include journalists Reazuddin Ahmed, Alamgir Mohiuddin, Amanullah, Abul Asad, Shawkat Mahmud, Rezwan Siddiqui, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Salahuddin Mohammad Babar, Syed Mesbah Uddin, Abdul Hye Sikder, Ershad Majumder, Amanur Rahman Sarke, AL Mujahid, M Abdullah, NurulAmin Rokan, MA Aziz, Kader Gani Chowdhury, Kamaluddin Sabuj, Syed Abdal Ahmed, Masudur Rahman Khalili, Ilias Khan, Mursalin Nomani, Kazi Rawnak Hossain, BadiulAlam, Bakhtiar Rana, and Nuruddin Ahmed.

After a seven-hour mass-hunger strike on Saturday, BNP has decided to hold rallies across the country, including the capital, on Monday, demanding the immediate release of 'critically' ill Khaleda Zia for better treatment abroad. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme while concluding their hunger-strike programme in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office. He said their party’s all units of metropolitan cities and district towns and Upazila headquarters will hold rallies on Monday. Read: BNP can bring foreign physicians for Khaleda: Law Minister In the capital, he said, the programme will be held in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 10am. “We’ll come up with the same demand in the rallies. If our demand is not met by the time, we’ll announce more programmes and free her and ensure her treatment abroad,” Fakhrul said. Later, the BNP leaders broke the hunger strike by sipping water offered by Dhaka University ex-Vice-chancellor Prof Anwar Ullah Chowdhury around 4pm. As part of a countrywide programme, hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies began the hunger strike in front of their Nayapaltan central office at 9am, demanding Khaleda Zia be allowed to go abroad for advanced treatment. Several thousand BNP leaders and activists joined the programme.

BNP started a seven-hour mass hunger strike programme in the capital on Saturday morning demanding that its ‘critically ill’ chairperson Khaleda Zia be allowed to go abroad for advanced treatment. As part of a countrywide programme, hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies began the hunger strike in front of their Nayapaltan central office at 9am. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally inaugurated the programme. He urged all to observe the programme till 4pm in a peaceful manner with due respect maintaining discipline. On Thursday, Mirza Fakhrul announced the programme at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. Fakhrul said the programme will also be observed in all metropolitan cities and district towns. “Khaleda Zia is fighting a battle between life and death. She’s the most beloved leader of the people of Bangladesh. It’s inhumane that she won’t be given a scope to receive treatment abroad,” he said. Read: No legal scope for Khaleda to go abroad: Law Minister Meanwhile, at a discussion programme on Friday, Fakhrul accused the government of plotting to end the life of Khaleda Zia by not allowing her to receive advanced treatment abroad. He also said they will come up with more action programmes after observing the mass-hunger strike today.  

BNP on Sunday accused the government of violating human rights by not allowing its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment. “Khaleda Zia has been sent to jail by unlawfully sentencing her. She’s not even being given the scope to receive treatment abroad. This is a serious human rights violation,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said, “We demand the release of all those detained for political reasons, including Khaleda Zia.” Fakhrul said an annual report of the UK titled ‘The 2020 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Report on Human Rights and Democracy, which was presented to British Parliament recently, said Khaleda Zia has been jailed 'illegitimately'. Also read: Govt trying to ‘obstruct’ Khaleda's treatment abroad: BNP He said the report also focused on Bangladesh’s human rights situation and ‘restrictions’ on political freedom and the government’s ‘inhuman’ attitudes. Fakhrul said a number of international and national human rights organisations have also expressed their views that incidents of deprivation of basic rights of people, repression on journalists, filing false cases and carrying out extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are on the rise in Bangladesh. “BNP national standing committee thinks that the report of the UK and other international human rights organisations have exposed that Begum Khaleda Zia has been jailed unlawfully,” he claimed. The press conference was arranged to unveil the decisions of BNP standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Saturday evening. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporally freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year. BNP has been claiming that she has apparently been kept under house arrest by imposing various conditions on her movement and travel abroad.  Also read: Khaleda has to seek presidential pardon to go abroad, says law minister On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications. But, Fakhrul said, Khaleda's personal physicians claimed that she needs advanced treatment abroad for her heart, lung, kidney and other health complications. Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for treatment, but it was turned down.