The law ministry has recommended extending the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence for next six months.
The ministry made the recommendation following Khaleda Zia’s younger brother Shamim Eskander submitted an application to the authorities concerned on March 2, seeking a suspension on the jail sentence of his sister and permission to let her go abroad for treatment.
The file recommending the sentence waiver extension has already been sent to the home ministry, says a statement of the law ministry issued on Monday
Law Minister Anisul Huq said that his ministry has given an opinion on the application that sought a further extension of suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence. In the opinion, the suspension of her jail sentence can be extended for six months on previous conditions. The government has no objection if Khaleda Zia receives specialised treatment inside the country, he added.
“Now the home ministry will send the file to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval. After getting the decision from the PMO, the home ministry will take necessary measures in this regard,” said Anisul Huq.
Khaleda Zia had served 25 months out of 17 years of jail term in two graft cases, involving Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust, before she was released amid the Covid-19 pandemic. She was released from jail on conditions for six months on March 25 in 2020 following her family’s petition.
The conditions include the BNP chief would take treatment from home in Dhaka and would not go abroad during this period. Since her release, Khaleda Zia has been staying at her Gulshan residence in the capital.
Later, the government extended her release for six more months from September 25 in 2020.
