Law ministry denies Khaleda permission to go abroad for treatment

The Law Ministry has given its opinion denying permission for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for her treatment.
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday said there is no legal scope for the government to grant permission for Khaleda Zia to go abroad for her treatment, and such opinion has been given by the Law Ministry.
The Law Ministry has already sent the application that Khaleda Zia's brother placed for her permanent release and to send her abroad for treatment to the Ministry of Home Affairs with a legal opinion, Anisul Huq told reporters at his ministry office.
He further said, "The application, on which the government has suspended the jail sentence of Khaleda Zia and released her from jail on two conditions, has been disposed of and has become a 'past and closed transaction'. There is no scope to review an application that is disposed of under
Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. If the decision passed under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is set aside, and if she (Khaleda Zia) is returned to jail, she can approach to a court with her prayer. In this condition, she even cannot go to a court."
According to the earlier conditions, Khaleda Zia has to receive treatment at her residence and cannot go abroad, Anisul Huq said.
Meanwhile, BNP's Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kayser Kamal, who is also a counsel for Khaleda Zia, in a reaction said it has been proven again by the government decision regarding Khaleda Zia that there is no 'rule of law' in the country.
He further said, "Through this decision, the most popular leader of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, has been subjected to a terrible joke. Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure clearly states that the government can release her by executive order."
"Today, an 'unelected' Prime Minister took this decision out of political revenge; although there are instances in the national and international law to release the prisoners and get them treated abroad. The government's decision is the worst fraudulence with the nation," he added.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital for 52 days. Her family wants to take her abroad for better treatment.
Khaleda Zia was sent to jail on February 8 in 2018 after being convicted in a corruption case. The government suspended her sentence on March 25 in 2020 by an executive order and released her on conditions. Later the tenure of the executive order was extended several times.

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