Khaleda’s jail term suspension extended, gazette issued

The jail term suspension period of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been extended by another six months.

The Security Service Department of the Home Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Monday. 

Additional Secretary of the department (jail wing) Syed Belal Hossain confirmed the matter to Jago News on Monday.

With this, the government has so far extended Khaleda Zia’s jail term suspension for the sixth time.

According to the gazette notification, Khaleda Zia will receive treatment staying at her own residence in Dhaka and not be able to travel abroad during her temporary release period.

On September 11, Khaleda’s brother Shamim Iskander submitted an application to the Home Minister requesting the government to continue the suspension of her jail sentence. 

Khaleda’s conditional release from jail suspending her sentences in two corruption cases was extended by another six months on March 23 which will end on September 24.

Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung and eye problems.

She was convicted in two graft cases and was taken to jail four years ago. In April 2020, at the beginning of Covid pandemic, the government granted a request from her family for a conditional temporary release from jail for “humanitarian reasons”.