Ex-PM plans damage suit of 100-mln-pound against British Airways

Dhaka, Apr 27 (UNI) A suit claiming 100 million pounds sterling in compensation is being readied against the British Airways on charge of 'tortious act' committed through denying Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina boarding the April 22 BA flight to Dhaka.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed, the principal counsel for Ms Hasina, has said, ''We are working on it.'' He viewed that an airline's right to refuse to carry any person is valid only when the immigration authorities of the country the passenger is from, asks the airliners, either verbally or in writing, to do so.

''Instead, Hasina was denied boarding pass after receiving a notification issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh in violation of the General Conditions of Carriage for passengers and baggage rules, as the BA quoted while responding to a clarification asked by the former prime minister,'' said the lawyer.

''By doing the tortious act, BA has tarnished Hasina's image internationally. The image of a political personality is valuable, which has been damaged by refusing her entry into Bangladesh, despite the fact that she had valid documents.'' The lawyer said the damage suit is likely to be moved after Ms Hasina returns home. It needs her approval.

The principal counsel also hinted that a petition would be moved before a High Court division bench on Sunday, seeking a court direction restraining the law from harassing or arresting Ms Hasina without due process of law after she returns home.

Ms Hasina, president of Awami League Party, went to the US last month and stayed back in the UK on her way home after the British Airways declined to give her boarding pass on advice from Dhaka amid a political purge launched by the army-backed caretaker government following the recent political turbulence.

However, the government on Wednesday lifted the embargo on the homecoming of the Awami League leader, and said there were no restrictions on movement of another embroiled former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

UNI