The Law Ministry has hinted at the possibility of extending the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's prison sentence for another six months but has expressed reluctance regarding her request for medical treatment abroad. Law Minister Anisul Huq outlined that any extension of Khaleda's jail term suspension would come with the condition that she remains in Dhaka for medical treatment and is not permitted to travel abroad. Referring to previous petitions seeking permanent release and overseas treatment, the minister clarified that the option under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been addressed, leaving only the possibility of extending the suspension of her sentence. The law ministry has forwarded the matter to the Home Ministry for further action. Khaleda Zia's conditional release, initially granted on 25 March 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended every six months, with the latest extension set to expire this month. Khaleda was imprisoned in February 2018 following a conviction in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case and subsequently in another corruption case later that year. Despite her health challenges, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and post-COVID complications, the prospect of medical treatment abroad appears uncertain as authorities lean towards an extension of her prison term suspension within the country.
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