Writ Filed to Allow Khaleda to Go Abroad

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking its directive on the government to allow BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for better treatment, reports media.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Eunus Ali Akond filed the writ petition on Sunday.

There is no legal bar to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment on the humane ground under section 401 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), said Eunus.

Section 401 (1) states when any person has been sentenced to punishment for an offence, the government may at any time without conditions or upon any conditions which the person sentenced accepts, suspend the execution of his sentence or remit the whole or any part of the punishment to which he has been sentenced.

Earlier on December 15, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda Zia’s health has deteriorated again.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said they have long been demanding the government allow Khaleda to go abroad for treatment but the government is paying no heed to it as there is no democracy and human rights in the country.

Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13.

Her medical board members said Khaleda immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

On behalf of her family, Khaleda’s younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.

Law Minister Anisul Huq recently said the government is looking for a legal option to allow Khaleda to go abroad for treatment.