Govt to free Khaleda Zia for 6 months

The government has decided to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, suspending her sentence for six months.

Party leaders hoped that Khaleda, who is now receiving treatment at the BSMMU, would be freed today. But the authorities did not specify any date for her release.

At a press briefing at his Gulshan residence yesterday afternoon, law Minister Anisul Huq said she will be released from jail on humanitarian grounds. 

 Khaleda would have to stay at her Dhaka home and she would not be allowed to leave the country.

The minister said the decision to suspend Khaleda's sentence was taken on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's instructions following an appeal by Khaleda's family members.

"Khaleda Zia's family members had appealed to the home ministry for her release from jail under an executive order so that she could have treatment in London. The appeal was forwarded to me.

"Later, Khaleda Zia's brother Shamim Iskandar, her sister Selima Rahman, and her [Selima's] husband Rafiqul Islam met the prime minister and made similar appeals. I gave my opinion to the home ministry to suspend her sentence and release her from jail on condition that she cannot go abroad," he said.

In reply to a question, Anisul said the home ministry would decide when she would be released.

The government made the decision on Khaleda's release as per section 401 (1) of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC), which allows such suspension of sentence, the minister mentioned.

If necessary, Khaleda could seek treatment from any hospital in the country. She would stay home for the six months, he said.

Khaleda is now "at the best hospital [Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University]", he said.

The minister did not entertain further questions from reporters.

After the briefing, Anisul refused to comment when The Daily Star asked him whether Khaleda would be allowed to talk to the media or be involved in politics in the six months.

Following the law minister's briefing, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists that the government decision came as a relief for them but they still had concerns.

"We are eagerly waiting for her release. It is a relief that she will get peace for at least six months. But we are concerned that if she could not go abroad, how could she have proper treatment," he told journalists at the party chief's Gulshan office.

Fakhrul said his party would come up with a statement on the issue later.

Contacted, one of Khaleda's family members said someone from the family approached the PM personally.

"We are thankful to the almighty, and the administration for this, even though it's late," said the family member, wishing not to be named.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International South Asia said, "We welcome the Bangladeshi authorities' decision to conditionally release the opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia from jail on humanitarian grounds. As she is suffering from a life-threatening illness, she must be given unrestricted access to the healthcare she needs."

The BNP chief landed in jail on February 8, 2018, after a special court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

On October 30 that year, the High Court raised her punishment to 10 years after dismissing her appeal.

The same special court jailed Khaleda and three others for seven years in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case on October 29 that year. The HC rejected her bail petition three times and the Supreme Court once in this case.