Khaleda’s jail sentence suspension extended for 6 months; not allowed to go abroad

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will be able to go to any hospital to avail treatment as per doctor's advice but she will not be allowed to go abroad. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal disclosed the conditions as the government today extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia's jail sentence for six more months.

According to the home ministry circular, the government has suspended the jail sentence of Khaleda Zia as per Section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) following the legal opinion of the law ministry.

Khaleda Zia will receive treatment at home and she cannot go out of the country during this period. The order will be effective from March 25, reads the notification.

Regarding the order, the home minister said the prime minister has extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia's jail sentence in response to her brother Shamim Iskander's request for medical treatment, which he submitted to the ministry some days back.

"We have extended the suspension of her sentence for six months upon application of her brother, so that she can receive treatment at home," said the minister, while addressing reporters at the Secretariat.

On March 2, Shamim Iskandar had applied for relaxation of bail as well as commutation of her (Khaleda's) sentences.

Two conditions -- stay at home and not allowed to go abroad -- will be applied like earlier but she can receive treatment from hospitals, like X-ray which is not available at home, the minister explained.

During this period, the address will be her Dhaka residence, he added.

Earlier on September 15 last year, the government extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia's jail sentence for six months for the first time. The former premier was freed from jail on March 25 after the government had suspended her jail sentence for six months.

Khaleda walked out of jail at a time when the world had been hit by Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the prevailing epidemic, she did not even 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 premier 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.