Suspension of Khaleda's jail sentence set to be extended by 6 months

The government is set to extend the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's jail sentence by six more months.

"Her [Khaleda's] family has applied to the home ministry for extending the suspension of her jail sentence. I have given opinion on the application for extending the suspension of her jail sentence by six months on previous conditions.

"I sent back the relevant file two days ago along with my opinion to the home ministry, which will now issue a notification to this effect," Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star today.

According to the conditions, Khaleda would not be able to go abroad and she has to take treatment at her residence.

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.