Khaleda Zia: Family applies for waiver of her sentence

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said that the decision on relaxing the bail conditions and waiving the sentence of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia would be taken after discussion with the law ministry.

The minister made the remark while talking with reporters at the secretariat after Khaleda Zia's family had applied for relaxation of bail as well as commutation of her sentences.

Khaleda Zia's younger brother Shamim Iskandar have submitted the application to the ministry on Tuesday, according to the home ministry.

In the application, they mentioned that they were not able to provide treatment of Khaleda during the Covid-19 period and asked for relaxing the bail conditions and waiving sentence, said Kamal.

"We have sent the application to the law ministry for further scrutiny. Once the law ministry gives their response, we would decide after discussing it properly," he said.

Khaleda Zia's brother Shamim Iskandar has applied for her earlier.

"Our prime minister is the mother of humanity. She always cooperates whenever she saw this type of condition," said the home boss.

In the perspective, the prime minister arranged Khaleda Zia's stay in her residence with conditions to ensure proper treatment, said the minister.

Asked about the family's request for sending Khaleda abroad, the home boss said that the request of going abroad has always remained in the reference of the letter.

"But, she [Khaleda Zia] is still in jail. She has been staying in her residence as jail," he said.

Khaleda received treatment from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital specialists when she was in jail, said the minister.

As she is suffering from arthritis and facing problems for movement, she needs continuous support from someone, he said, adding she was suffering from the problem earlier not for going to jail.

Thinking about such issues, the prime minister has arranged an opportunity for her so that she can get better assistance, said Kamal.

While she was in jail, her nominated BSMMU doctors went there and now her nominated doctors are providing treatment at her residence, added the minister.