Staff Reporter :
The Law Ministry has declined BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s request to travel abroad for advanced medical treatment while extending the suspension of her jail sentence by another six months.
Law Minister Anisul Huq announced on Wednesday that the Law Ministry’s stance is to extend the existing suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term with two conditions referring to the fact that she must remain at her residence in Gulshan and she is prohibited from leaving the country.
The decision was communicated to the Home Ministry for further action.
It was known that Khaleda Zia was temporarily released from jail on March 25, 2020, through an executive order, suspending her sentence under similar conditions.
Since then, her release has been extended every six months following requests from her family.
Responding to queries regarding petitions for Khaleda Zia’s permanent release and treatment abroad, the Law Minister reiterated that the petitions submitted under section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have been deemed inadmissible.
Therefore, the only action feasible is the extension of the suspension of her jail term.
A recent petition was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs on March 6, seeking another extension of the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term and permission for her to undergo advanced medical treatment abroad.
The Security Services Division of the Home Ministry will issue a gazette notification in this regard.
The conditional suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence will be effective from March 25, as per the latest decision