Court directs jail authorities to ensure Khaleda's treatment

A Dhaka court yesterday directed jail authorities to provide treatment for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, as per jail code and advice of the government medical board.

The court also sent the documents of the order on Khaleda's treatment to the jail authorities.

Judge Sheikh Hafizur Raham passed the order after Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder appealed to the court to give her proper treatment, during the hearing on charge framing in Niko graft case on Sunday. 

The judge's order came in line with a previous High Court directive passed on October 4 last year, which instructed government to immediately admit the BNP chief at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for treatment.

Following the order, the government formed a medical board for her treatment.

On February 24, members of the medical board met Khaleda in jail and gave some observations about her health.

“The trial court has no jurisdiction to pass any order on the petition submitted on Sunday by Khaleda's lawyer regarding her treatment. Rather, the court can follow the High Court order and instruct jail authorities to continue her treatment as per jail code and directive of the High Court,” said the judge.

Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder said that on February 12, a petition was submitted with the court seeking Khaleda's treatment.

On Sunday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed concerns over the health condition of the BNP chief and said doctors are not providing proper treatment to her, after meeting Khaleda at the court during a hearing on charge-framing.

“Khaleda told me she is not well. We are very concerned about her health. Her blood tests have not been conducted yet. She is diabetic, but has not received any treatment for it,” he said while talking to reporters in front of Old Dhaka Central jail, after meeting Khaleda during the hearing on the Niko graft case.

Meanwhile, another Dhaka court yesterday adjourned the hearing on charge framing in 11 cases filed against Khaleda till April 16.