What is going on with Khaleda’s treatment?
SOUTH ASIAPOLITICS
The health condition of Khaleda Zia, who is under treatment at Evercare Hospital, has deteriorated. Her respiratory distress increased suddenly last Wednesday night. Thanks to the immediate efforts of the medical board's doctors, the situation was brought under control. At that time, she underwent an X-ray.
Why was there suddenly a request to send the critically ill Khaleda Zia abroad? And why did the government abruptly deny it? Why did the BNP inquire about admissions in hospitals in Germany, the United States, and the UK? Did they receive any "green signal" from behind the scenes from the government? If not, why did the BNP and Khaleda Zia's family start making arrangements? These questions have been swirling in many minds since the Ministry of Law rejected Khaleda Zia's application to go abroad for treatment on Sunday. Although neither the government nor the BNP are commenting specifically about the overseas treatment, they are giving legal interpretations for and against the rejection. However, political analysts say that without a 'signal' from the government's high command, the Law Minister wouldn't have dared to request, and similarly, the BNP wouldn't abruptly start preparations to send her abroad without some indication. There may be unspoken conditions at play, and the political calculations can change.
A senior leader of the BNP told Samakal that the application was denied due to differences in opinions among the leaders of the ruling party. The ministers and the Prime Minister could not come to a consensus. In response to a question, that leader mentioned that he isn't aware if any conditions were set. Before the rejection of Khaleda Zia's application to go abroad, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had given a negative indication in her speech. The Ministry of Law officially announced this on Tuesday. Law Minister Anisul Huq stated that there's no chance of reconsidering the application made by her family to send her abroad.
However, a few days ago, the Law Minister had mentioned that no application was made from Khaleda Zia's side for treatment abroad and that the government would consider if an application was made. However, the BNP claimed that an application was already made. Still, on 25th September, another application was made by her younger brother Shamim Eskander.
The BNP has expressed strong displeasure at the government's decision to reject the application. BNP's senior joint secretary advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in a press conference said that the decision to prevent Khaleda Zia from going abroad for advanced medical treatment is a reflection of the Prime Minister's speech in the USA. In essence, the Prime Minister is executing a plan to isolate Khaleda Zia from the world. Drawing a parallel with the German 'Secret State Police', known shortly as 'Gestapo', he mentioned that the Awami League in Bangladesh is known as the 'Awami Gestapo'. The police, administration, and courts are being used to present a threat of death to the public. The Gestapo used to kill their opponents with lethal injections. He claims that something similar is happening in Bangladesh now. After Khaleda Zia's arrest, he alleged that various methods of poisoning had been used against her, making the people believe...
"However, a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, Monzil Morshed said, according to section 401 of the Criminal Procedure, the government has released Khaleda Zia by executive order. With the same authority, the government could permit her to go abroad for treatment. There might be no need to approach the court for this. Because Section 401 grants the government all kinds of powers.
Responding to journalists' questions at his office, Anisul Haq said, that once an application under section 401 of the Criminal Procedure is disposed of, there's no provision in this law to reconsider that disposed application. Therefore, explanations of subsections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of section 401 have been sent to the Home Ministry. The opinion mentioned that an application once disposed of under the power of section 401 is a 'past and closed transaction', legally there's no opportunity to reopen it.
The Law Minister further said the application received from the Home Ministry requests permission for Khaleda Zia's permanent bail and advanced treatment abroad. A journalist asked about the procedure to send Khaleda Zia abroad if her family wishes to do so. In response, the Law Minister repeatedly stated, that she has been released under section 401 of the Criminal Procedure with two conditions – to cancel that and then consider again if there's a provision.
General Secretary of the Awami League and the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Obaidul Quader said yesterday, that Khaleda Zia has to go abroad in accordance with prevailing laws, constitution, and the court's decision. All decisions regarding Khaleda Zia will be in accordance with the law.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal recently stated that Khaleda Zia is being treated as per the prevailing laws of the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already informed us of this. Referring to the BNP, the minister said that no matter how much protest they stage, there's no provision to go abroad outside the boundaries of the law.
It has been alleged that the application for Khaleda Zia's medical treatment abroad was considered politically rather than legally by her lawyer, Barrister Kaisar Kamal. He made this allegation in response to the statement made by the Law Minister. BNP's legal affairs secretary, Kaisar Kamal said, through this decision of the government, it's once again proven that there's no rule of law in the country. Through this, a terrible drama has been staged with Khaleda Zia. It's clearly stated in section 401 of the Criminal Procedure, the government could have released her by executive order and could have allowed her to go abroad for treatment.
The health condition of Khaleda Zia, who is under treatment at Evercare Hospital, has deteriorated. Her respiratory distress increased suddenly last Wednesday night. Thanks to the immediate efforts of the medical board's doctors, the situation was brought under control. At that time, she underwent an X-ray. A doctor reported that preparations have been made to admit Khaleda Zia to the Coronary Care Unit. In the afternoon, her ECG and echocardiogram were done. The catheter that had been placed on her right side for fluid removal from her lungs was temporarily removed by the doctors.
The same doctor informed me that, in addition to her weakened physical state, the BNP Chairperson is seriously suffering from liver cirrhosis. There is no advanced treatment for this condition in the country. The only alternative is a liver transplant. Alongside her liver issues, her kidney complications and diabetes are also increasing. Thus, when trying to address one issue, another is cropping up. At present, attempts are being made to control the situation using sensitive medications.
By the side of the BNP Chairperson's bed is her daughter-in-law, Sharmila Rahman Sinthi. She cooks meals for her mother-in-law at their Gulshan residence and brings them to the hospital. 78-year-old Khaleda Zia is suffering from kidney, lung, heart, and liver complications. On the night of August 9th, Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital for a medical examination. Under the leadership of specialist doctor Professor Shahabuddin Talukdar of Evercare Hospital, a 19-member medical board is closely monitoring and treating her.