No legal way for Khaleda to be sent abroad

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday once again said that there was no scope for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment as per the law.

"There is no legal base of the demand placed by pro-BNP lawyers seeking permission for her visit abroad. The government cannot take arbitrary decisions," he said.

"I will give my opinion soon on the application for allowing her to go abroad," he added.

The minister commented while attending a programme of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at Hotel Lakeshore in the capital's Gulshan.

He also said that the government would follow the president's directives regarding Khaleda's issue.

The president would direct the government about it after holding talks with the political parties on the reconstitution of the Election Commission, he said.

About the US sanctions on Rab and its seven current and former top officials, he said he hopes that the foreign and home ministries would look into the issues.

The minister said the NHRC must remain firm and uphold its target for which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established it in 2009.

NHRC's Chairperson Nasima Begum presided over the function. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, deputy minister for education, NHRC all-time member Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Dhaka's Divisional Commissioner Md Khalilur Rahman and his Secretary Narayan Chandra Sarkar also spoke at the event.

Meanwhile, the High Court yesterday accepted hearing the writ petition that sought its directives on the government to allow Khaleda to go abroad for advanced treatment.

The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman may hold a hearing on the petition today, petitioner Md Eunus Ali Akond told The Daily Star.

Supreme Court lawyer Akond filed the writ petition with the HC on Monday.

Since November 13, the 76-year-old former prime minister has been in the critical care unit of Dhaka's Evercare Hospital, where she is receiving treatment for liver cirrhosis.

Her doctors have said she needs a medical procedure that is available only in countries such as Germany, the UK and the US.