No bail, foreign treatment for Khaleda
Khaleda Zia’s lawyers will now go to the Appellate Division
The High Court on Thursday turned down a petition seeking bail for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on humanitarian grounds for going abroad for better treatment.
Khaleda's lawyers said they will now go to the Appellate Division.
The High Court bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice AKM Zahirul Huq passed the order after reviewing a report on the latest health condition and treatment of Khaleda Zia now in jail in corruption cases.
The judges in their observations said Khaleda Zia is a convict which is why she cannot expect facilities similar to a common man.
If she gives her consent, the advanced treatment can be provided at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), they said.
The judges also directed the medical board formed for her treatment to provide her with quick treatment once she agrees on it. They also said if the board wishes it can extend the number of its members.
The court pointed out that the BSMMU is the best medical facility in the country.
Patients with many critical situations are transferred to the hospital from across the country. So, Khaleda Zia should have not any hesitation to receive treatment here, they said.
The judges also said the BSMMU in its report mentioned about their all preparations for the advanced treatment of Khaleda Zia. The hospital did not say that it is unable to provide her with the advanced treatment. That is why she cannot get bail to go abroad for treatment.
At the hearing, Khaleda's lawyer Zainul Abedin said, "We have full confidence in the court. We have sought bail on humanitarian ground. Her health condition is deteriorating every day. She has been suffering from frozen shoulders and even her fingers are getting bent."
He further said the medical report mentioned that physicians could not provide her with advanced therapy because she did not agree on it.
The lawyer said Khaleda has life risk in receiving this treatment. Earlier, she took the same treatment at a hospital in the UK. So, it is better for her to take the treatment at the same hospital.
Zainul Abedin also told the court, "Though I am not a doctor, I at least understand that the medical report stated that Khaleda Zia needs advanced treatment. She is almost paralysed and her condition will worsen further. We are coming back to the court over and over again as we have no other options. She should be granted bail on humanitarian grounds."
Complying with the High Court order, the BSMMU on Wednesday submitted the health report to the registrar general of the Supreme Court.
The defence lawyers on February 18 filed the petition mentioning Khaleda needs "advanced treatment" and so she should be taken to a country like the UK for the purpose.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been in prison since February 8, 2018, serving a 17-year jail sentence after being convicted in the Zia Orphanage and the Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases.
She applied for bail over the Zia Charitable Trust case in July last year, but the High Court rejected the plea.
Later, she applied to the Appellate Division, but that court also rejected her plea and also directed the BSMMU to give her advanced treatment.
She was later shifted to the BSMMU from jail for treatment under the supervision of the jail authorities.
The BNP chairperson was denied bail once again on Thursday in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.