The opposition BNP has announced a six-hour mass hunger strike in all districts and cities across Bangladesh, including capital Dhaka, on Saturday to demand speedy treatment of critically ill Khaleda Zia, party leader and former prime minister, the party announced.

"I urge everyone to observe a mass hunger strike in Dhaka from 9 am to 4 pm on November 20 centrally and across the district and metropolis to demand the release and medical treatment of Khaleda Zia," the party secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul said. 

Mirza Fakhrul again demanded of the government, saying, "Khaleda Zia is fighting to the death. She is the most beloved leader of the people of Bangladesh. She is not being allowed to go for treatment abroad for her illness - it is inhuman.

On November 13, Khaleda Zia was admitted to Bashundhara's Evercare Hospital in a critical condition. The day after admission, she was taken to the CCU for intensive care, said the hospital's cardiologist. She has been suffering from various complications including arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung and eye problems for many years.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Thursday that she and her government had shown Zia a lot of humanity, even though she had spoken ill of her. 

"What I have done for Khaleda Zia is (it) not so much? I am not inhuman. So I made arrangements (for her) to stay at home," Hasina said at a press conference. 

Hasina and her ruling Awami League accuse Zia and her late husband and President Zia ur -Rahman of being behind the conspiracy that resulted in the killing of her father and Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her family on August 15, 1975.

(SAM)