Dhaka: BNP on Monday alleged that the government is not allowing its Chairperson Khaleda Zia to receive treatment at United Hospital as part of an ‘evil design’.

‘A patient must have the right to receive treatment where she or he wants as it’s a matter of life and death. Our leader Khaleda Zia thinks she’ll get proper treatment at United Hospital. But why does the government wants to send her to another place?’ wondered BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, ‘We think the government is showing obstinacy over her treatment as part of its evil plan. We would like to say our leader never bowed down to any blueprint in the past, and won’t do it in the future as well.’

Justifying their party’s demand for ensuring the BNP chief’s treatment at the United Hospital, Rizvi said the hospital has all the modern equipment and facilities for conducting the necessary health tests, including MRI and CT scan, of her.

He said the government must ensure Khaleda’s treatment at the United Hospital, and people will not accept any ploy over it.

The BNP leader also criticised Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his comment that Khaleda Zia is getting the highest facilities in jail, saying it is a ‘false’ statement.

He questioned as to why the BNP chairperson is not allowed to receive treatment at a private hospital while Awami League president took treatment at Square Hospital when she had been there in a sub-jail after 1/11 political changeover.

Rizvi said Quader is making confusing statements only to deprive Khaleda of proper treatment.

He also alleged that BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed was confined to his house on the Eid day in Noakhali’s Companygonj by police at the behest of Quader. ‘We condemn the incident.’

He also came down hard on Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed for his remark that Khaleda Zia is willing to receive treatment at the United Hospital with a motive to go abroad. ‘It’s an imaginary remark and Awami League leaders are champion of making cooked-up stories.’

The BNP leader said it is Sheikh Hasina, not Khaleda, who has a history of going abroad from jail in the name of treatment.