DHAKA, March 25, 2020 (BSS) – Home Minister Advocate Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said that imprisoned BNP chairperson Bengum Khaleda Zia was expected to be released under an government executive order later this afternoon as legal and official formalities were nearly exhausted.
“She (Khaleda) is set to be freed conditionally this afternoon on humanitarian ground as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave her final approval to this effect earlier today,” he told a media briefing at his office.
Kamal said required procedures were nearly completed for her release for six months under her younger brother Shamim Iskandar’s custody on two conditions requiring her stay at her residence during the period when she could not leave the country either.
Kamal said Sheikh Hasina decided to use her discretion for halting Khaleda’s imprisonment for six months as Khaleda’s brother and sister and brother in law recently met the premier with an appeal for her release.
Ahead of calling on the premier, Eskander applied to the home ministry to seek Begum Zia’s release.
Inspector general of prisons Brigadier General AKM Mostafa Kamal Pasha was present during the briefing along with the ministry’s public security division senior secretary Md Mostafa Kamal Uddin and security service division secretary Md Shahiduzzaman.
“This (decision) proved again that she is the ‘mother of humanity . . . she was declined entry as she went to console Begum Zia after her younger son’s death,” he said.
Moreover, the minister said Begum Zia repeatedly celebrated her fake birthday on August 15, a day which is most painful day for Sheikh Hasina.