Law ministry vets on appeal of Khaleda’s release extension

The law ministry on Tuesday sent its opinion on the appeal by family members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking extension of her release for better treatment abroad to the home ministry. Law Minister Anisul Huq confirmed the matter to the media saying the ministry sent the opinion around at 3:00pm on Tuesday.

Khaleda is currently on conditional release on health grounds.

Last week, Khaleda's family appealed to the government to release her from jail so that she could be taken abroad for better treatment.

Shamim Iskander, younger brother of the BNP chief, made the appeal to the Home Ministry.

Khaleda Zia was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment on two corruption charges in 2018 and freed from jail custody last year on an application by her relatives when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in the country.

The 76-year-old BNP chief tested positive for Covid-19 twice in a month - on April 10 and April 24. She returned to her home on June 19, after being hospitalised for nearly two months for coronavirus infection and other
complications.