Bangladesh has recently stirred controversy as it prevented former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is currently battling various health issues, from traveling abroad for life-saving medical treatment. The decision has drawn criticism from supporters and rights groups who see it as a politically motivated act of vengeance.
Khaleda Zia, the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been under effective house arrest due to her involvement in a corruption case. Despite her deteriorating health, the government has decided to deny her request to seek treatment abroad.
The prevailing political climate in Bangladesh, where the ruling party enjoys significant control, has raised concerns among several Western governments and human rights organizations. The country is preparing for general elections by the end of January, with Zia and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina shaping the nation’s politics for more than four decades.
Zia, who has been receiving hospital treatment since early August, suffers from various health conditions, including advanced liver cirrhosis, breathing difficulties, diabetes, a heart condition, rheumatoid arthritis, and knee problems. Her family made a plea to the government last month, urging them to allow Zia to travel abroad for medical care.
However, the Minister for Law, Anisul Huq, announced that the government had rejected the plea. The executive order for Zia’s release from prison restricts her from both participating in politics and seeking medical treatment abroad. Huq explained that before considering a new directive allowing her to travel, the existing executive order must be canceled, necessitating Zia’s return to prison.
Kayser Kamal, the BNP’s legal chief, condemned the decision, arguing that the same provision that allowed for Zia’s conditional release could be used to grant her permission to seek treatment abroad. Last week, tens of thousands of BNP supporters protested against the government’s actions towards Zia.
The BNP and its allies have been staging protests since last year, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina and the establishment of a caretaker government to oversee the upcoming elections.
Yousuf Ali, a supporter of Zia and a British-trained barrister practicing in both Dhaka and London, asserted that there is no legal obstacle preventing Zia from traveling abroad for life-saving treatment. He believed that the government’s decision was driven by political vendetta and not legal grounds.