Khaleda Zia's jail sentence suspension extended for six more months
The government has decided to extend the suspension of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's jail sentence by six more months.
In this regard, the home ministry would issue an order after completing some formalities.
Law minister Anisul Huq told Prothom Alo about the decision on Khaleda Zia on Wednesday afternoon.
He said a decision has been taken to extend the suspension of Khaleda Zia's jail sentence by six more months on the previous conditions.
The law ministry gave its opinion to the home ministry. Previously, similar procedures were followed to extend the suspension of jail sentence for several times, he added.
On 1 March, Khaleda Zia’s family appealed to the home ministry to extend the suspension and relax the conditions.
Khaleda Zia’s younger brother Sayeed Iskander met the home minister and made the appeal.
The home ministry then forwarded the application to the law ministry and the latter gave its opinion on Wednesday.
On 3 March, home minster Asaduzzaman Khan said opinion would be sought from the law ministry on the appeal seeking extension to the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence and a decision would be taken afterward.
The minister said, “The application seeks acquittal of sentences stating that necessary arrangements have been taken for better treatment. It also seeks relaxing the conditions. And, we will decide after scrutinising it. ”
Replying to a query from newspersons, the minister said, “Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is the mother of humanity. So, we are hopeful she would consider the matter positively.”
The government freed Khaleda Zia from jail on 25 March 2020 on certain conditions for six months in an executive order. The government has been extending her release since then.
Khaleda Zia has been staying at a house, ‘Feroza’, in Gulshan since her release from the jail. She has not taken part in any political programmes since then.
A special court convicted Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on 8 February 2018. She was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the case. The High Court later extended Khaleda Zia's prison term to 10 years.
The 76-year-old BNP leader has been suffering from various physical complications. A medical team consisting of four-five physicians takes care of her treatment.