No legal bar to invite Khaleda to Padma Bridge inauguration: Law Minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq today (June 5, 2022) said there is no legal bar to invite BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia during the Padma Bridge's inauguration ceremony.

"There are two conditions about Khaleda Zia that she will receive treatment inside Bangladesh and she cannot go abroad. So, there is no legal bar for inviting her during the function to be held on the occasion of the Padma Bridge opening," he said.

He made the remark while replying to queries from reporters after attending as the chief guest in a meeting organised on the occasion of inaugurating the 146th refresher course for the chief judicial magistrates and chief metropolitan magistrates at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in Dhaka.

Citing Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Minister Anisul Huq said the government will invite Khaleda Zia to the Padma Bridge inauguration ceremony.

The law minister said he also informed Minister Obaidul Quader this morning that there is no legal bar to this effect.  

Yesterday (June 4, 2022), Obaidul Quader, also general secretary of ruling Awami League, told reporters that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would also be invited to the inauguration ceremony "if the relevant law permits".

Today, Anisul Huq told reporters that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government does not take action against anybody out of the prejudice.

Corruption cases have been filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her two sons during the regime of the caretaker government in 2007 and investigations into those cases have been completed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and their trial proceedings have been finished in accordance with law, he said, adding that blaming Awami League for those cases and their trial proceedings are baseless.