Khaleda Zia must go back to jail for permission to go abroad: Law Minister

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said the government will consider BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s appeal to go abroad for medical treatment if she makes a fresh petition after returning to jail.

“No fresh order can be given over a solved petition anymore. If she applies again after going to jail, then we will consider it. But there is no scope to consider any fresh step under section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in these circumstances,” he told Parliament.

The Law Minister said this replying to the remarks of BNP MP Rumeen Farhana during the discussion over a proposal to send the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Bill, 2021 to the Scrutiny Committee.

During the discussion, Rumeen demanded the government allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment considering her physical condition. The BNP MP said the government has the authority to give Khaleda Zia the scope under section 401 of CrPC.

Anisul Huq suggested Rumeen Farhana see the decisions given under the same section of CrPC in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

He said the law is equal for all. But Khaleda Zia enjoys more facilities than what she is entitled as a convicted prisoner. She gets such facilities because of the humanity of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. But the BNP rehabilitated and rewarded the killers of Bangabandhu.

The Law Minister said the August 21 grenade attack was carried out to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, where Tarique Rahman is the prime accused in the grenade attack case. Even then she is kind to Khaleda Zia who is now getting treatment.

Anisul Huq said he never said there is no scope to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad as per Section 401 of CrPC. Her jail sentence also remains suspended under Section 401, though no section was mentioned in the petition filed on behalf of Khaleda Zia. It is the government who found out this Section and disposed of her petition as per the Section.

There is no scope to reconsider an already decided appeal under the same section, said the Law Minister.