Law ministry opines for extending suspension of Khaleda Zia's jail sentence

The government will extend the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's jail sentence for six more months.

The home ministry will issue a notification soon.

Law Minister Anisul Huq, who is now in USA, gave his opinion in this regard a few days ago.

"I have sent the relevant file with my opinion for extending the suspension of her jail sentence to the home ministry which will now issue a notification to this effect," the law minister said.

"Khaleda would not be able to go abroad and she has to take treatment at her residence," he added.

Anisul Huq said the government released the BNP chief after suspending her jail sentence as per section 401 (1) of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC).

Khaleda was freed from jail on March 25, 2020 after the government suspended her jail sentence for six months.

She walked out of jail at a time when the world was hit by Covid-19 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 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.