Pro-BNP lawyers on Tuesday threatened to go for a movement if the government does not let Khaleda Zia go abroad for medical treatment by Saturday next. "We’re giving the government four days--Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (to meet our demand). Or else, we lawyers will go on a hunger-strike across the country on Sunday,” said advocate Fazlur Rahman, member secretary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (BJAF). Speaking at a rally, he also warned that they will gradually intensify the movement to force the government to accept their demand. Read:Govt looking into legal options to let Khaleda go abroad: Law Minister “Time will come when the people of the country will hit the streets with processions, and the streets will see the heat of the fire. And that day is not far away. Let's start a movement to take Khaleda Zia abroad,” Rahman said. BJAF arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding Khaleda’s medical care abroad. Fazlur Rahman urged Law Minister Anisul Huq to find out a legal option to send Khaleda out of the country for treatment. “The law is not bigger than human life.” Speaking at the programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government can allow the BNP chief to go abroad for treatment under section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). “The usurper government, not the law, is an obstacle here.”

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday said the government is assessing whether there is any legal option to allow BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment. “I think the decision on it (application of Khaleda’s family) should come after considering overall aspects and assessing whether there any legal scope,” he said. Read:Khaleda free, not in govt custody: Law Minister Talking to reporters after attending an event at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in the capital, the minister said they are also careful so that the law is not violated in this regard. “As there haven many applications, including from lawyers, I think it is appropriate to come to a well-thought-out decision after examining all aspects and whether any scope to do something in any way,” he added. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13. The BNP chief’s medical board members on November 28 said she immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 seeking permission to take her abroad for treatment. Though the government earlier twice turned down such applications, it is taking time to dispose of the fresh plea of the BNP chief’s family.  On November 28, the Law Minister told parliament that Khaleda is now free as she is not in government custody. Read:Pro-BNP lawyers’ memo over Khaleda’s treatment to be examined: Law Minister He also said as Khaleda was temporarily released under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure based on some conditions, including not leaving the country, there is no provision in the law to allow her to go abroad now until she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail. BNP leaders and pro-BNP lawyers, however, have long been arguing that the government has the unlimited authority to take any decision in this regard under section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedures. The party has also been observing various programmes since November 25 demanding that the BNP chief be allowed to go abroad as there is no advanced cnetre in Bangladesh to treat her liver cirrhosis problem.

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said the memorandum submitted by pro-BNP lawyers seeking government permission to send its chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced medical treatment will be examined. “I would like to remind you one thing that Khaleda Zia was freed to stay home as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina considered the matter from a humanitarian aspect. So I would say the government doesn’t lack humanity or compassion.” Read: Sending Khaleda abroad: Pro-BNP lawyers submit memo to Law Minister “We know how to exhibit humanity and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina knows how to do it,” the minister added. “I’ll definitely examine the memorandum. We need to hold discussions to make a decision and we’ll do that. I don't think it would be right for me to tell you anything prematurely today,” the minister added.

A delegation of pro-BNP lawyers on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Law Minister Anisul Huq seeking the government’s permission to send ailing Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment. They argued that there is no legal obstruction for the government in allowing Khaleda to go abroad. The delegation, led by Advocate Fazlur Rahman, member secretary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum (BJAF), met the Law Minister at his secretariat office around 1:45pm and submitted the memorandum to him. Read: Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP to submit memo to DC offices Wednesday In the memorandum, the lawyers said the BNP chairperson and three-time (former) Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been receiving treatment in Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital in a critical condition. They said the specialist doctors who are treating her have already given an opinion to send her abroad for advanced treatment. “We the lawyers are concerned over the deterioration of health condition of the country’s three-time former Prime Minister…we think it’s imperative to allow her to go abroad for advanced treatment in a bid to save her life.” They mentioned that the government released Khaleda as per section 401 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) with two conditions and the tenure of her release was extended thrice. “She didn’t violate any condition so far. The government can anytime make an arrangement for Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad by issuing a fresh gazette notification without imposing any condition under section 401 (1)or issuing a new order under subsection 6 of 401. In this case, there’s no legal barrier. Rather, such a decision of the government will be lawful,” the lawyers said. Under the circumstances, they hoped that the government would demonstrate its generosity by taking necessary steps for sending Khaleda abroad for better treatment. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on 13 November, six days after she had returned home from the hospital. Read: Let Khaleda go abroad or face oust-govt movement: Fakhrul The BNP chief's physicians said she has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, critical cardiac, kidney ophthalmological and dental complications. The hemoglobin level in her blood has also dropped. On behalf of the family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on 11 November urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment. Law Minister Anisul Huq, however, recently said the BNP chairperson first has to make a fresh application by going back to jail to go abroad for treatment.

Terming the behaviour of pro-BNP lawyers at a courtroom of the Appellate Division an unpardonable offence, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said they turned the courtroom into a battlefield.   “Pro-BNP lawyers’ behaviour at the courtroom was audacious and it’s an unforgiveable offence,” he said while speaking at a press conference at AL President’s Dhanmondi political office in the city.   The press conference followed a meeting of the AL office subcommittee on the 21st national council of the ruling party billed for December 20-21 next.   Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said, “The government has nothing to do with the release of Khaleda Zia as she was not imprisoned in any political case but in a corruption one.”   “BNP’s has been claiming that Khaleda is in jail in a political case which is a lie,” he added.   Quader also said any anarchy in the name of movement by BNP men will be resisted and their ‘non-political’ activities will be responded harshly.   On Thursday morning, a six-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice, left the courtroom after a group of pro-BNP lawyers shouted and made chaos at the courtroom during the hearing of an appeal filed by Khaleda in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.   Asked about the possible change in the Awami League leadership in the ensuing national council of the party, Quader said there will be no change in the president post. “There’ll be no change in the AL president post in the council. Sheikh Hasina will remain there in the post,” he said.   He also said there might be change in other posts of the party and it depends on the party chief.

The judicial activities of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court remained halted since Thursday morning amid chaos by pro-BNP lawyers demanding that hearing on the bail petition of BNP chief Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable Trust graft case be held today (Thursday).