Khaleda’s Sentence: Law ministry opines for 6 more months of suspension
The law ministry yesterday gave its opinion for extending the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's jail sentence for six more months.
"I have given my opinion on the application that sought a further extension of suspension of Khaleda Zia's jail sentence. In the opinion, I said the suspension of her jail sentence can be extended for six months on previous conditions," Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star.
"The government has no objection if Khaleda Zia receives specialised treatment inside the country."
He said the law ministry sent the relevant file containing the opinion to the home ministry that forwarded the application for extension of Khaleda's jail sentence to the law ministry recently for its opinion.
"Now, the home ministry will send the file to the Prime Minister's Office for approval. After getting the decision from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the home ministry will take necessary measures," the minister added.
The government on September 15 last year extended for six months its earlier order that suspended the jail sentence of Khaleda and released her from jail.
The home ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on September 15.
The notification said Khaleda will receive treatment at her home and she cannot go abroad during this period.
On March 4 this year, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters at the secretariat that, "Khaleda Zia's brother Shamim Iskandar filed the appeal on March 2 seeking extension on the stay of his sister's sentence where he also urged waiver of her punishment."
Khaleda was freed from jail on March 25 last year after the government suspended her jail sentence for six months. She walked out of jail at a time when the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
She reportedly did not visit any hospital for treatment. However, doctors visited her at home regularly and gave treatment.
Khaleda landed in jail on February 8, 2017, after being sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. On October 30 the following year, the High Court enhanced her punishment to 10 years after dismissing her appeal in the case.
The former prime minister was convicted by another special court in Dhaka in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case on October 29, 2018. She was sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by the court.
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