No reason for Khaleda to seek presidential clemency: BNP

BNP yesterday said there is no reason for its Chairperson Khaleda Zia to seek clemency from the president since she did not commit any crime.

"There's no question of seeking pardon as she (Khaleda) has not committed any crime...," said BNP's organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.

On Wednesday, Law Minister Anisul Haq in parliament said Khaleda Zia has to confess first to her corruption offences and then seek pardon from the president to go abroad for her treatment.

Prince said, "We strongly protest the statements made by the law minister in parliament." 

He said BNP chairperson has been suffering from serious heart, kidney and liver complications, and receiving treatment at her Gulshan residence since she was discharged from Evercare Hospital in the capital.

The BNP leader said the medical board formed at the Evercare Hospital for Khaleda's treatment recommended sending her to an advanced centre abroad. 

He also refuted the law minister's comment that there is no scope to reconsider a fresh application of Khaleda's family to send her aboard under Section 401 of (CrPC) since it has been disposed of earlier. The government can do it if it wants to under Section 401 of the CrPC, he said.

"We would like to say the government has to shoulder all the responsibilities if anything bad happens to Khaleda Zia," Prince said.