The government has decided to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia suspending her jail sentence for six months.
Law Minister Anisul Huq announced the government decision at an urgently convened press conference at his Gulshan residence on Tuesday afternoon.
Asked when the former prime minister Khaleda Zia would get released, the Law Minister said, "All the documents related to Khaleda Zia's release have already been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Completing all the formalities, the Home Ministry would take steps to release her."
However, the Department of Prisons under the Ministry of Home Affairs have not yet received any directive of Khaleda Zia's release, said Dhaka Central Jail's jailor Mahbub Islam.
He said the Ministry of Law would inform the Ministry of Home Affairs about Khaleda Zia's release officially. Then the Ministry of Home Affairs will inform the Police Headquarters. The Police Headquarters will send directives to the Dhaka Central Jail."
Mahbub Islam also said the Police Headquarters would clearly mention when and how Khaleda Zia will be released in its directive. "According to that directive, we would release Khaleda Zia from jail," he said.
The BNP chief landed in jail after being sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a special court on February 8, 2017.
On October 30, 2018, the High Court extended her punishment by 10 years in the case after dismissing her appeal.
On October 29, 2018, Khaleda Zia was convicted in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by another special court in her absence.
She is currently under treatment at BSMMU.
SZA