The government has to ensure better treatment for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at United Hospital as her health condition deteriorated further in jail, demanded party leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday.

“The pain in her hands, legs and waist intensified. She needs to immediately undergo MRI and receive better treatment,” Rizvi, senior joint secretary general of the party, told a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

Khaleda should receive treatment by her personal physicians at the United Hospital as per her choice, he said.

Khaleda's relatives and lawyers, who met her in jail, informed them of her physical condition, he added.

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim asked BNP leaders not to spread falsehood on Khaleda's treatment, reports BSS.

“She is a former prime minister, politician… and we are very much concerned about her treatment,” Nasim told a press briefing in the conference room of the health ministry.

“She is taking medicines regularly as per doctors' prescription and she is doing well now,” he said.

The government must follow the jail code while providing treatment to her, Nasim said, adding, “We can assure that there will be no negligence regarding Begum Zia's treatment.”

Khaleda personally thanked the authorities for her better treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, he said.

Khaleda was sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment in a graft case on February 8.