Talks on incarcerated BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s release on parole surfaced in March of this year. Although the party shot it down, demanding her unconditional release, the talks have supposedly been re-opened again.
Earlier on Friday (Jul 26), Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a media call demanded that Khaleda be given treatment of her choosing be it at home or abroad.
Several members of BNP’s policymaking forum National Standing Committee told Bangla Tribune that Fakhrul has broached Khaleda’s release once more with her permission.
They said that he met with her at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), where she is currently undergoing treatment as a prisoner. She reportedly informed him of her wishes then.
Members of the party’s highest policymaking forum National Standing Committee are of the view that the government is in charge of Khaleda’s release.
In such a situation there is no scope of getting her out other than bail or parole as it’s impossible for the party create any sort of political pressure, they said.
A source close to the former premier’s family wishing to remain anonymous said that as of Thursday (Jul 22) her sugar level had risen to 22 and it won’t bode well if this continues.
“She used to be able to walk before but she is unable to do so now,” he said.
A standing committee member said that Fakhrul has voted for her to be sent abroad for advanced treatment after speaking to her.
“She can’t stay this way. Even the party has been unable to wage a strong movement,” the leader, wishing to remain anonymous said.
“We can’t let her rot in jail. That’s why we want her release at any cost so that she may receive medical care,” he added.
He re-iterated that her bail depends on the government and the court will grant it only when the administration permits.
“It’s also impossible to keep the party united unless she is free,” he said and added that the party must take a strong decision while Khaleda lives.
Some members at Khaleda’s office, however, have a different view of the matter.
They said that her family’s involvement is imperative if the party is to move for parole citing her health condition.
Moreover, it’s important to take into consideration what BNP and Khaleda herself is thinking about her release and what the government’s attitude will be.
According to sources, some party leaders consider her being out of jail as the biggest achievement regardless of whether the party has to plead or whether the government softens the stance on her release.
They say that leaders on the grass root level believe that her release will lead to the fall of the government and the party will once more be active.
Six months ago BNP Vice Chairman Khandaker Mahbub Hossain himself had tabled the idea of Khaleda’s release on parole.
“She didn’t agree back then. A lot of them didn’t,” he told Bangla Tribune on Friday and added that many leaders were under the impression that she would be granted bail.
“I’ve always said that Khaleda Zia’s case is a political one. She has been put in jail due to political reasons,” he said.
“That’s why I proposed release on parole. Prior to this Sheikh Hasina and our acting chairperson Tarique Rahman went abroad for treatment on parole.”
Mahbub Hossain is of the view that the government will give clearance for parole if Khaleda applies for it. “The two parties must come to a negotiation.”
The BNP chief’s office sources are of the view that her permission is imperative for both parole appeal and treatment abroad and the process must be done through political negotiations.
“There is no way to ensure Khaleda Zia’s release without waging a movement,” said another Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu.
Some reliable sources said that the rallies and programmes demanding Khaleda’s release were announced in monsoon as the central leaders feared humiliation from activists and grass root leaders.
The reality is that the party organisation is vulnerable at district, metropolitan and grass roots level rendering all movements unsuccessful, according to them.
Another vice chairman wishing to remain unnamed said that the government is likely to take a positive stance on her parole given the current instabilities in the country.
“BNP’s attitude suggests that Khaleda might be released,” a top Jatiya Oikya Front leader told Bangla Tribune.
Meanwhile, standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that all her cases her bail-able.
“Even a blind man can tell that the government is using the court to keep her imprisoned,” he said.
“The prime minister herself said in London that if Tarique Rahman steps out of line, his mother will remain in jail for life,” Mossharraf Hossain claimed and added that Khaleda can be released only if the prime minister says so.
A three-time prime minister, Khaleda is serving a 17-year time for her involvement in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.
She is currently undergoing treatment at BSMMU and her party claims that her condition has deteriorated alarmingly.
Despite many tries Bangla Tribune was unable to reach BSMMU Director AKM Mahbub Hossain for comments on BNP’s allegations.
The hospital’s Cardiology Department Assistant Professor Dr Tanzila Parveen, who sits on the medical board for Khaleda also declined to comment.