After announcing the verdict amid tight security, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haque said, “This verdict proves that no one is above the law.”
In a public statement, the Home Minister announced that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is anticipated to undergo medical treatment abroad. However, her departure is contingent upon the completion of the requisite legal procedures. He made this statement during a conference at Kakrail in Dhaka on Saturday, September 30th, 2023.
The Home Minister conveyed that Khaleda Zia’s family had requested her medical treatment abroad. This request has been forwarded to the Law Ministry for legal deliberation. Furthermore, while discussing the matter, the official underscored the significance of adhering to the rule of law in such circumstances. The Minister emphasized, “It is imperative to address legal matters in this context.”
Khaleda Zia’s younger brother, Shamim Iskander, met with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on September 25 to submit an application to have the BNP leader treated overseas. The application was then forwarded by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.
Khaleda Zia’s Legal Process to Go Abroad Treatment
On Sunday, 1st October 2023, Law Minister Anisul Huq dismissed the application requesting overseas medical treatment for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The minister emphasized that Khaleda Zia must be incarcerated before she can be allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment. He declined the application at the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.
During an interview with Voice of America journalist Satarupa Barua that aired on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also voiced the same sentiment, stating that Khaleda Zia must return to prison before seeking approval for medical treatment overseas.
She explained that they must follow the legal process and obtain court permission through an application if they wish to take her abroad. If the court grants permission, she can travel abroad.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made it clear that she cannot interfere in court proceedings. Her role as prime minister is limited to suspending Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence on humanitarian grounds and granting her permission to remain at home.
Charges Against Khaleda Zia
In 2018, a court in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, sentenced former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to prison in a corruption case. Special Court-5 judge Md Akhtaruzzaman sentenced the two-time former prime minister to five years of rigorous imprisonment. He read out selected portions of the 632-page judgment.
After announcing the verdict amid tight security, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haque said, “This verdict proves that no one is above the law.”
Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the country’s main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and five others were accused of embezzling funds from the Zia Orphanage Trust. Anti-corruption commission filed the case in Ramna police station on July 3, 2008, on the allegation of embezzlement of orphanage money from abroad.
Zia’s eldest son and heir Tariq Rahman and four others were sentenced to 10 years in prison in the case. BNP Vice Chairman Tariq Rahman has been living in the UK for the past nine years. The six were charged with embezzling 21 million taka ($252,000) from foreign donations for a charity in the name of Zia’s husband, former president Ziaur Rahman.
The other four who were sentenced to 10 years in prison are former MP Kazi Salimul Haque, Zia’s former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique, Zia’s nephew Mominur Rahman, and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed.
Jailed opposition leader Khaleda Zia was also sentenced to another seven years on corruption charges. In 2018 Judge Md. on charges of abuse of power as prime minister in collecting $375,000 from unknown sources for the Zia Charitable Trust Fund. Akhtaruzzaman found him guilty.
The then Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was absent from court as she was hospitalized while in jail.
The judge sentenced three others to seven years in jail for collecting money from undeclared sources for the trust in the name of Zia’s late husband and former President Ziaur Rahman.
Her lawyers, who were absent during the verdict, have consistently described the trial as a “political vendetta” by Hasina which is baseless.
Khaleda Zia’s Present Health Status
According to her personal physicians, the health condition of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is deteriorating, with liver cirrhosis complicating her already precarious health. Medical experts have observed a steady decline in her well-being.
Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain has indicated that the medical board’s consensus is that a comprehensive treatment for her condition is unavailable within the country. He emphasized the urgent necessity of arranging for her to undergo a liver transplant abroad, as this procedure is currently unfeasible in Bangladesh.
In summary
recent developments have cast doubt on the likelihood of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia receiving medical treatment overseas. Given that the legal process must be followed, and no one is exempt from the law’s jurisdiction, it appears there is no alternative but to adhere to established legal procedures. The rejection of her application by the Law Minister and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina underscores the importance of abiding by due legal processes.
