Claiming that Chairperson Khaleda Zia was subjected to severe mistreatment during her time in jail, BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Friday demanded that those responsible should be brought to justice.
He made the remark while addressing a milad and doa mahfil programme, held on the ground floor of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office to mark Khaleda Zia’s 81st birthday.
Abbas, a standing committee member of the BNP, alleged that Khaleda was kept in an abandoned part of the old central jail in extremely poor and unhealthy conditions.
He said she was placed in a room infested with rats and insects, where even an animal would struggle to survive, let alone a human being.
“Some deputy jailers and jail officials unfairly kept her in a room on the roof. From this event, I want to say it should be investigated how much mistreatment she endured during her jail life, and all those responsible should be brought to justice,” the BNP leader said.
Abbas recalled the days when BNP leaders were allowed to visit her in jail once every two weeks.
“We saw with our own eyes the unbearable suffering she endured. Despite our best efforts to provide her with facilities from outside, we failed,” he said.
He also said during those meetings they witnessed Khaleda’s strong morale, but also saw her health gradually deteriorating.
“We realised then that something poisonous was being mixed with her food.”
The BNP leader prayed to the Almighty Allah for Khaleda’s long life, good health and well-being.
Paying tribute to Khaleda’s political journey, Abbas said she was an example of leadership admired across the world, having transformed from a housewife into a leader who took to the streets, stood with the people and led both the party and the country through struggles.
He praised Khaleda Zia’s strength and dedication during BNP’s most difficult times.
“Despite immense pressure, we saw her firm leadership. Her love for the party’s leaders and activists was unmatched. She never compromised on democracy.”