Fakhrul says BNP sorry for traffic jam caused by people as Khaleda headed to airport for UK trip
On Tuesday, as Khaleda’s convoy headed for the airport, thousands of people, including BNP activists, gathered on the roadside to see her off. Their presence caused traffic congestion in the capital causing sufferings for commuters.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has apologised for the sufferings of commuters as people gathered on the roadside to see off the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia as she headed for the United Kingdom for medical treatment on Tuesday (7 January).
"As people expressed their priceless love for the country's leader Khaleda Zia, who was subjected to unfair outrage for a long time, there was a lot of traffic on the road which caused various difficulties for many," he said in a press statement issued to the media today (9 January).
"On behalf of the BNP, I express my sincere regret for this. Considering the situation, we hope that the people of Dhaka will look at the temporary inconvenience with kind eyes," he added.
Speaking about Khaleda's condition, Fakhrul said the countrymen remember that the BNP chairperson fell severely sick after falling victim to "the fascist dictator Sheikh Hasina's anger".
"The countrymen also remember that Khaleda Zia, pioneer of the movement to restore democracy in Bangladesh, did not compromise on any injustice and showed full respect for the existing laws of the country. During her time in prison, her physical condition continued to deteriorate due to a lack of better medical treatment. Despite repeated appeals from the BNP and her family, based on the advice of local and foreign doctors, she was not allowed to undergo treatment abroad," he added.
However, he continued that after the fall of the Hasina regime in the face of a mass uprising on 5 August, Khaleda was released from prison by an executive order of the current interim government.
"But as her physical condition did not improve much, the process of taking her abroad for better treatment was initiated," stated Fakhrul.
On Tuesday, as Khaleda's convoy headed for the airport, thousands of people, including BNP activists, gathered on the roadside to see her off. Their presence caused traffic congestion in the capital causing sufferings for commuters. Many complained about the matter on social media platforms.
Khaleda left Dhaka from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday night aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar, and reached London the next day to receive advanced treatment at The London Clinic.
In London she met Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman, both of whom went into exile there in 2008, for the first time in seven years. She has been admitted to The London Clinic. The last time they met was in London in July 2017 when the former premier visited the UK capital.
The former premier has been battling a series of other serious health issues, including heart disease, kidney problems, and complications arising from Covid-19.