Khaleda may appeal to court to go abroad for treatment: Law Ministry

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has given its opinion on BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's treatment abroad, suggesting that after returning to jail, she may apply to court to get permission for going abroad for her treatment.

"Begum Khaleda Zia's brother applied to the Home Ministry for her permanent release and treatment abroad. The Home Ministry sought opinion of the Law Ministry on the matter. We gave opinion today," Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters at his ministry office here today.

As per Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, he said, there is no chance to open the petition, which has already been disposed of. 

The law minister said once a petition under Section 401 of Code of Criminal Procedure is disposed of, there is no scope in law to reconsider the disposed petition. 

"We have sent our opinion to the Ministry of Home Affairs by explaining the sub-sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. We have given opinion that the petition disposed under Section 401 is a past and closed transaction. There is no other scope to open it," he said. 

Anisul Haque said considering the petition of Khaleda's family submitted in March 2020, the government issued an executive order suspending her jail sentence under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and released her conditionally for six months. 

As per the conditions, Khaleda Zia must take treatment staying home and will not be able to go abroad and afterwards, her release period was extended for eight times, he said. 

On September 25, Khaleda Zia's younger brother Shamim Iskandar applied to the Ministry of Home Affairs for Khaleda Zia's permanent release and allowing her to go abroad for treatment. 

On February 8, 2018, a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Later, on October 30 the same year, the Appellate Division extended her jail sentence to 10 years in the graft case.