Dhaka: BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the government is not taking any step for ensuring better treatment of their chairperson Khaleda Zia as part of its ‘plot’ to hold the next polls without her participation.

‘We’ve demanded a better medical treatment of our leader by sending a delegation to the Home Minister, but the government is not paying heed to it as it wants to hold another voter-less election keeping BNP and Khaleda Zia out of the race,’ he said, reports the UNB.

The BNP leader came up with the comment while speaking at a discussion arranged by Khulna Divisional Students Forum in Dhaka at the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of Khaleda Zia and arrested BNP leaders from jail.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said people will take to the streets to exercise their voting right if the government tries to hold another January 5-lile ‘lopsided’ election.

He alleged their chairperson has been kept in an inhuman condition in an abandoned jail after convicting her in a ‘false and fabricated’ case at the behest of the government.

Mosharraf warned that the government will be held responsible if Khaleda’s health condition deteriorates sharply for lack of treatment.

The BNP leader said the government is regularly arresting their leaders and activists to suppress its opponents as it cannot tolerate criticism.

He came down hard on the government for what he said arresting their Dhaka south city unit leaders on Sunday during their meeting over formation of committee of the unit.

‘It seems there is no scope for even holding an indoor meeting in the country as the government has established unwritten one-party Baksal rule with the help of state machinery,’ Mosharraf observed.

He said the ruling party leaders are making unguarded remarks about BNP as they have got scared apprehending the consequences they will have to face after losing power.

Mosharraf, who visited Gazipur election areas on Sunday, said BNP’s mayoral candidate will win the May-15 polls with a big margin. ‘Awami League also knows they’ll get one-fourth votes. A huge mass wave has been created in favour of the BNP candidate.’

He also warned that the elections to Gazipur and Khulna city corporations are an acid test for both the government and the Election Commission ahead of the 11th parliamentary polls.

The BNP leader asked their party leaders and activists to get ready to take to the streets together with people to restore their voting right and free Khaleda from jail.