Khaleda won’t be sent back to jail before polls

Although BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is a convict and sentenced to imprisonments in two corruption cases, she will not be sent to jail before the next parliamentary election, said Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday.

"The government has released her on two conditions as per section 401 (1) of the Criminal Code of Procedure. It has no plan to change this decision before the next election."

He made the comments while talking to journalists after inaugurating a two-day training programme for the sub-registrars at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.

The government on September 19 extended the suspension of Khaleda's jail sentence for six more months.

She was freed from jail on March 25, 2020, after the government suspended her jail sentence for six months. She walked out of jail during coronavirus pandemic.

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, 2018, the High Court enhanced her punishment to 10 years.

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.

Meanwhile, Anisul Huq also told reporters that a bill on the amendment of law for holding trial of Jamaat-e-Islami as a war criminal organisation will be placed before the Jatiya Sangsad soon.

Responding to another question, he said the government was waiting for the Election Commission's decision about the reported application of Jamaat-e-Islami in the name of a new political party for registration.

He also said that sub-registrars must provide the best service to the people without any harassment and to prevent fraudulence in the land registrations.

Inspector General of Registration Shahidul Islam Jhinuk presided over the meeting where Law Secretary Golam Sarwar also spoke.