No option to accept Khaleda’s plea to travel abroad

There is nothing to do over the fresh plea by BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s family to take her abroad for advanced treatment as the matter has already been settled, says Law Minister Anisul Huq.

Speaking at the parliament on Tuesday, he said cited Section 401 of the Constitution, which says an application over a matter which has been disposed of cannot be reviewed.

On Monday, Khaleda’s brother Shamim Iskander submitted a written application to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, seeking permission to take her abroad.

The 76-year-old former prime minister was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on Saturday for follow-up treatment, six days after she was discharged from the same hospital following a nearly two-month stay.

She was admitted to the hospital for the third time this year for various health complications.

Law Minister Huq’s remarks during Tuesday’s parliament session came in response to BNP MP Rumeen Farhana.

"If the government wants it can allow her to travel abroad as a person on bail under special consideration," she said.

In his response, the minister said that nothing can be done as the matter has already been settled.

"The government suspended Khaleda’s prison sentence on the conditions that she will remain at her home and receive treatment in Bangladesh," Huq said.   

The BNP chief will have to go back to prison and file a fresh petition if she wants to go abroad for treatment, the law minister reiterated.

The former prime minister suffers from arthritis, diabetes and complications involving kidneys and lungs. She had been hospitalized with Covid-19 as well.

Khaleda was convicted in two graft cases and was taken to jail three years ago.

Amid the pandemic, the government released her from jail for six months after suspending her prison sentence in March 2020.

She has since stayed at her Gulshan residence under the care of her personal physicians.

On September 19, the government extended the suspension of her sentence for the fourth time.