Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that there are some legal complications in allowing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment and it might require permission from court.
“There may be a need for court approval as there are certain legal complications in allowing her to go abroad, and our ministry has nothing to do over the matter as it is under court’s jurisdiction. The law minister knows better about this,” he said these while talking to reporters at his ministry.
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“It’s not about taking permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs. When applications are submitted to our ministry, they are forwarded to the Law Ministry. If the Law Ministry thinks that the matter falls within the court's jurisdiction, it is then sent to the court,” he said.
Responding to queries about any pending applications regarding Khaleda Zia's travel, the minister said, “We have not received any such application so far. I am telling you the procedures in case such an application is submitted.”
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When questioned about previous applications from the BNP, he said, “Every time they apply, we grant approval to the extent possible. Beyond that, they have to go to court.”
On the issue of the United States' visa policy, the minister said, he is not aware of who fall under the US visa restriction.
“We have heard the declaration about the US visa policy, but they have not formally communicated it to us via letters,” he said.
“We don't know who fall under the restriction. Since we lack this information, I cannot comment on it,” he further said adding, “It is up to them to formulate their visa policy and decide who can enter their country. We have nothing to comment on it.”