Law Minister Anisul Huq has said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release period will be extended by an executive order if her (Khaleda Zia) family files petition in this regard.
The law minister said this replying questions of journalists after a workshop for judges at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in the capital on Saturday.
Earlier, on March 23, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's sentence was suspended and the release period was extended by 6 months under conditions.
Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in two cases. Her sentence has been suspended by the executive order. She was sentenced to five years imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.
After the verdict, BNP chief was kept in the Old Central Jail at Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka. Later, on October 30 of that year, High Court increased her sentence by another five years to 10 years on appeal in this case.
On October 29 of the same year, the same court sentenced Khaleda Zia to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. In addition to 7 years imprisonment, Khaleda Zia was fined Tk 10 lakh.
However, when the Covid-19 pandemic started in March 2020, the government released Khaleda Zia, who was imprisoned, for 6 months, subject to conditions, by suspending the sentence in an executive order in view of the family’s request. Since then the release period is being extended by 6 months.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
