Khaleda’s treatment: HC adjourns plea hearing till Oct 1

The High Court today adjourned till October 1 the hearing on a writ petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking the court’s directive on the government to send her to a specialised hospital for treatment.

The bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order saying that the hearing of the petition might be lengthy.

But, the court has a time constraint as it is now on an annual vacation and it will reopen on October 1, the bench said.

Earlier in the day, Khaleda Zia’s lawyers Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali and Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon placed some arguments before the bench.

The lawyers prayed to the court to pass an order on the government to send Khaleda Zia to United Hospital for her treatment.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared for the state. 

Earlier this month, the same HC bench deferred the hearing four times.

On September 9, Khaleda filed the writ petition on health grounds as she has been suffering from various illnesses. In her petition, she prayed to be admitted to a specialised hospital.

Meanwhile, a medical board formed by the government on September 13 recommended Khaleda to be admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

The former prime minister was jailed on February 8 after a Dhaka court convicted and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.