Law ministry for extending Khaleda’s jail term suspension by 6 months

The law ministry has given its opinion in favour of extending Khaleda Zia’s prison sentence suspension by another six months on the two existing conditions, Law Minister Anisul Huq said on Wednesday.

The opinion of the law ministry is being sent to the home ministry, he told reporters in the morning.

The government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, on the condition that she would stay at her Gulshan house and not leave the country.

Since then, her release term has been extended every six months following the family's plea.

“Today, we gave an opinion in favour of extending Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence suspension by another six months on the existing two conditions. A file is being sent to the home ministry,” he said.

Drawing attention to petitions by Khaleda’s family about permanent release and treatment abroad, the minister said: “I have told you (media) earlier that the petition sent under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been disposed of and there is no scope to take steps in this regard except extending jail term suspension.”

On March 6, a petition was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking another extension of the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's jail term and permission to take her abroad for better treatment.

The Security Services Division of the home ministry will issue a gazette notification in this regard.

The conditional suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence will come into effect on March 25.

Source: UNB