Law Minister Anisul Haq on Thursday said the opinion of his ministry on allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad will be sent to the Home Ministry soon.

“Her (Khaleda’s) application was brought to me in the evening. Our opinion will be sent to the Home Ministry soon,” he said while talking to reporters from his official residence.

Earlier, Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence was suspended as per section 114 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and now it will be examined whether granting her permission to go abroad is possible under the section of the CrPC.

On Wednesday night, Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Iskander met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his Dhanmondi residence and submitted an application seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment.

The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup.

Also read: Allow Khaleda to go abroad for treatment: Fakhrul

She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with the shortness of breath around 4pm on Monday. Her breathing problem later eased.

On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.

Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 10 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus. She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was positive.  

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.

She was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) the same day, and she has been staying at her Gulshan house since then.

Also read: Ailing Khaleda’s family seeks permission to send her abroad

On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last.

On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term.  

Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.