Law ministry gives opinion on application for allowing Khaleda to go abroad

The law ministry today gave its opinion on an application for extending the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's jail sentence and permission to go abroad for treatment.

"I have given my opinion on the application and sent it to the home ministry today. Now, the home ministry will send the file to the Prime Minister's Office for approval. After getting the decision from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the home ministry will take necessary measures," Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star.

"I will not disclose my opinion now. Wait until the honourable prime minister's decision," Anisul Huq added.

Replying to a question, he said the application was submitted on behalf of Khaleda Zia for a further extension of suspension of her jail sentence, saying that her physical condition has worsened and therefore she needs to go abroad for treatment.

The application is similar to the previous one, on which the government suspended her jail sentence for few times under section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the law minister said.

The government released Khaleda Zia on March 25 last year after suspending her jail sentence.

Later the suspension of her jail sentence was extended twice and the government issued separate notifications to this effect. The notification said Khaleda will receive treatment at home and she cannot go abroad during this period.