SC lawyer appeals to president, PM
A Supreme Court (SC) lawyer yesterday appealed to the president and prime minister to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail on humanitarian grounds, ahead of the birth centenary celebrations of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Advocate Eunus Ali Akond sent two applications to President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, requesting them to pardon Khaleda Zia and release her from jail -- saying that Khaleda is gravely ill.
As per the preamble of the constitution and its articles 11, 48 (3) and 49, the president can commute the jail sentence of any convict on advice from the prime minister, Eunus Ali Akond told this newspaper yesterday.
He said he sent the applications to the president and PM by post yesterday for the clemency and release of Khaleda.
The BNP chief landed in jail after being sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case by a special court in Dhaka on February 8, 2018.
On October 30, 2018, the High Court enhanced her punishment to 10 years in the case after dismissing her appeal.
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