Dhaka: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said the physical condition of their party’s ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia is not so good in jail.

‘Madam’s (Khaleda’s) health is not that much good as her arthritis problem has deteriorated. She has huge pain while walking,’ he said while talking to reporters after meeting Khaleda in old Dhaka central jail in the afternoon.

Fakhrul also said Khaleda is also suffering from some sort of nerve problems. ‘But unfortunately, she is not getting necessary treatment as her personal doctors are not allowed to meet her.’

He demanded the government immediately permit the BNP chief’s personal physicians to meet her in jail to examine her health and provide her with proper treatment.

The BNP leader said though her health condition is not good, she is morally very strong. ‘She was repeatedly asking us not to get worried about her health and she is fine and very strong despite some physical problems,’ he said.

Asked what messages Khaleda conveyed to him, he said she directed her party leaders and activists to carry out the ongoing movement for ‘restoration’ of democracy and thus overcome the country’s political crisis.

She thinks the movement is the only way to ‘restore’ democracy and the government should also take steps to this end taking cognisance of it, Fakhrul said.

Earlier, the BNP secretary general entered the Nazimuddin Road Old Central Jail around 5pm to meet their party chairperson and passed around one hour talking to her.

Fakhrul was scheduled meet to Khaleda earlier on March 29 last, but it was postponed as she suddenly fell sick in jail on that day.

On April 1, the government formed a medical team comprising four professors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital to examine her health condition and ensure her treatment in jail.

However, Khaleda refused to receive treatment from them.

On February 8 last, a special court here sentenced Khaleda to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Khaleda, a 73-year-old former prime minister, was taken to the old central jail minutes after the verdict had been delivered.