Awami League's Joint General Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hassan Mahmud said that BNP's demand for sending Begum Zia abroad is a politically motivated demand.
The minister was responding to a question on the issue while exchanging views with journalists in the meeting room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon.
Stating that the government has no chance to comply with the political motive of sending a convicted convict abroad Dr Hasan Mahmud said, “Of course, the government is determined to ensure that Begum Zia gets the highest medical treatment. If necessary, there can be a medical board with all the top doctors of the country including the doctors of Bangabandhu Medical College, that board can give advice.”
He also said, “It seems in the speeches of BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Rizvi Ahmed, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain Saheb have now become doctors. They say that Begum Zia's life is in danger whereas, Evercare Hospital or any specialist doctor did not say anything about that.”
The Information Minister said, “Even before Begum Zia fell ill, BNP raised the issue that Begum Zia must be sent abroad or else she cannot be saved but, the reality is that even then she got better and returned home with treatment in our country. They are still emitting the same smoke as then. In fact, the demand to take Begum Zia abroad is not for her health reasons, this whole demand is politically motivated.”
Replying to a question on the possibility of resignation of BNP MPs demanding Khaleda Zia to be sent abroad, he said, “There are six MPs in total.
In their speeches, it seems that they are not worried about any other problem in the country. There is no other problem in the country, except Begum Zia's health and they are busy with it.”
In the wake of the threat of a movement of BNP to overthrow the AL government, the minister said, “It is not the first time; they have made such demands many times before. This time, if there is any attempt to create such chaos, the people will resist it with a strong hand and the government will be with the people.”
Responding to a question about the attack on journalist Rishad Huda, the Information Minister condemned the attack and said it was a very sad incident. The law and order forces have taken immediate action on behalf of the government and the court has not granted bail to the accused, rather sent him to jail. We are monitoring the matter and the incident is very sad as well as reprehensible.