Khaleda's family to decide about her release on parole: Fakhrul

The family of imprisoned BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will decide about her release on parole, said the party's secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday.

He said this while paying tribute to the party founder Ziaur Rahman at his grave in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka on the occasion of Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal's 40th founding anniversary.

When asked about Khaleda Zia's appeal for release on parole Fakhrul said, "It depends completely on her family. They will decide this."

Mentioning that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia is very ill, he said, "She deserves bail as per the constitution. But, the government is not releasing her on political grounds."

On Sunday, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the government will consider the matter if Khaleda Zia admits her guilt and apologises for it.

Khaleda has been in jail since she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on 8 February 2018. She was found guilty in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.

Meanwhile, Khaleda’s lawyer Zainul Abedin told UNB on Sunday that they will again file a bail petition this week seeking their party chief’s release.

Pointing to section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, he said the government can suspend the jail term of such convicts under special consideration.

BNP leaders and activists on Saturday demonstrated in front of the party’s Naya Paltan central office demanding its chairperson’s release.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said the government urgently needs to free Khaleda Zia on humanitarian grounds instead of doing politics over the issue.