DHAKA: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia should not reject Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for having treatment as she earlier expressed reluctance to get that at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Obaidul Quader was inspecting traffic conditions at Gabtali Inter-district Bus Terminal, around 11am Wednesday (June 13), as holidaymakers doing their journeys to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

“CMH is the best hospital of the country. Where can you get better treatment than it? She (Khaleda Zia) didn’t want to have treatment at BSMMU that is why we have made arrangements at CMH. As she is the chairperson of a large party, and a former prime minister, therefore, we put forward the proposal of a best hospital. If she really wants treatment, she should not reject it. But if she does politics within it, then it is a different matter,” he said.

However, on Tuesday (June 12), Shamim Iskander, brother of BNP Chairperson, sent a letter to the home minister, requesting him to admit Khaleda Zia to United Hospital.

Following his plea, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, “If BNP wants, its Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be taken to Combined Military Hospital (CMH).”

Earlier on the same day, Khaleda Zia refused to have treatment at BSMMU after the government made arrangements there for her. 

Four personal physicians of Khaleda Zia recommended United Hospital after visiting her in prison on Saturday (June 9).

They also claimed ‘Khaleda Zia suffered a “mild stroke” on June 5.’ 

On June 10, Attorney General Muhbubey Alam told reporters that Khaleda’s doctors’ claim about her stroke is untrue. In fact, her blood sugar level fell.

However, a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8.

She was sent to Dhaka central jail following the verdict.

BDST: 1349 HRS, JUN 13, 2018

AH/SI