Home ›› 29 Dec 2021 ›› Front
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday said there is no scope to allow BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment as per the opinion given by Law Minister Anisul Huq.
“The law ministry in its opinion said there’s no legal scope to let Khaleda Zia go abroad for treatment. The ministry gave its opinion with the explanation of the relevant law, and we’re reviewing it,” he said while talking to reporters at the secretariat.
The opinion of the ministry will be sent to the prime minister after its review, the home minister said.
On Monday, the law ministry forwarded its opinion to the Ministry of Home Affairs on an application seeking permission to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment.
On behalf of her family, Khaleda’s younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted the application to the home ministry on November 11.
Though the government earlier twice turned down such applications, it is taking time to dispose of the fresh plea of the BNP chief’s family.
Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital for various health complications since November 13.
The BNP chief’s medical board members on November 28 said she immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
On November 28, Law Minister Anisul Huq told parliament that Khaleda is now free as she is not in government custody.
He also said as Khaleda was temporarily released under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure based on some conditions, including not leaving the country, there is no provision in the law to allow her to go abroad now until she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail.
BNP leaders and pro-BNP lawyers, however, have long been arguing that the government has the unlimited authority to take any decision in this regard under Section 401 of the CrPC.
The party has also been observing various programmes since November 25 demanding that the BNP chief be allowed to go abroad as there is no advanced centre in Bangladesh to treat her liver cirrhosis problem.
