DHAKA, March 24, 2020 (BSS) – The government today decided to
“conditionally” release imprisoned BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on
humanitarian grounds for six months.
“Following Prime Minister’s order and as per the law we have decided to
stay her sentence for six months and she will be released for a period of six
months when she must stay in her own house and take treatment in the country.
She would not be able to go abroad during the time,” Law Justice and
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq told journalists at a briefing at
his Gulshan house.
The law minister said the decision was taken as per section 401 (1) of
Code of Criminal Procedure.
“I have sent my opinion to Ministry of Home Affairs a little earlier,”
said Anisul Huq.
The law minister said Khaleda Zia’s brother Shamim Iskander, sister Selima
Islam and brother-in-law Rafikul Islam had called on Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina and pleaded to release her on executive order. After that the Prime
Minister asked to take decision as per the law in this regard, said Anisul.
He said the condition does not mean that she will not be allowed to go to
hospital during the time, but Khaleda would not be allowed to go abroad.
The decision would come into effect once the Ministry of Home Affairs
would approve it.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said his office would take steps for
74-year Zia’s release, now being treated for old-age complications at the
prison cell of a state-run specialized hospital, “as soon as we receive the
file from the law ministry”.
Home ministry officials, however, said the law ministry’s proposal reached
them by now while they were now executing the legal procedures to be approved
“finally by the prime minister”.
“Under the current situation sending someone abroad is like telling her to
commit suicide,” Law Minister Anisul Huq added.
Dhaka special judge court-5 on February 8, 2018, sentenced the BNP leader
to five-year imprisonment and other five accused including her “fugitive”
elder son and BNP’s senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, to a 10-year
imprisonment each.
The High Court on October 30, 2018, enhanced BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda
Zia’s five-year jail term to 10 years in the case, allowing a revision plea
filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against the lower court judgment.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on October 29, 2018, sentenced BNP chairperson
Begum Khaleda Zia and three others to seven-year imprisonment each in Zia
Charitable Trust graft case.
The court also fined them Taka 10 lakh each, in default, have to suffer
more six months in jail.
“This is a decision we welcome,” BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told newsmen
in brief comments at the hospital premises while Zia’s younger sister Selima
Islam said “I thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina”.