BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s conditional release from jail in two corruption cases has been extended by another six months.
The Home Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Tuesday.
In the light of the petition filed over the release of the convicted prisoner Khaleda Zia and the legal opinion of the Law Ministry, her jail sentences have been suspended for six months on two conditions as per section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the notification said.
It will come into effect on September 25, a day after the six-month suspension of her sentences will expire.
As per the conditions, Khaleda Zia will not be allowed to go abroad for treatment as she will have to stay home and receive treatment there. She was released earlier on the same conditions.
Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters at the Secretariat, “BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s family had applied for an extension of the suspension of her sentences. Later, we received a recommendation from the Law Ministry in this regard. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved it a while ago.”
The Home Minister said the BNP chief’s family could not take steps for her treatment over the last six months due to coronavirus. “In view of this, her release has been extended for six months.”
On August 25, Khaleda’s younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Minister seeking extension of the release order.
On September 3, the Law Ministry gave its positive opinion for extending the suspension order.
Khaleda Zia was released from jail for six months upon an executive order considering her age and on humanitarian grounds following an application by her family on March 25.
The former prime minister was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.
She was convicted in a second corruption case later.
The 76-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release. A special team of her personal physicians has been overseeing her treatment.
