BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s family has filed a plea with the government seeking an extension on her suspended prison sentence.
It may be recalled that on March 25, the government released her from prison for six months on the condition that she would receive treatment at home and would not travel abroad.
The BNP chairperson’s family filed the petition for an extension of the suspended prison sentence as the six months allotted by the government will come to an end on September 24.
Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, one of the counsels on Khaleda Zia’s legal team, said on August 25 an application, signed by Khaleda’s younger brother Shamim Eskander, was sent to the Home Ministry.
“The BNP chairperson did not receive proper treatment due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Her family wants the extension for her treatment,” the lawyer added.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the media: “We received an application which was sent to the Law Ministry for its consideration.
“Further steps will be taken after considering the legal basis of the application.”
On March 24, Law Minister Anisul Huq confirmed the government’s decision to release the former prime minister.
The government suspended her prison sentence for six months under sub-section 1 of Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Anisul said at the time.
Khaleda’s conviction
On July 3, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda Zia and others with Ramna police station, accusing them of misappropriating Tk2.1 crore in donations meant for a trust to be formed in her husband's name.
On February 8, 2018, a special court convicted Khaleda and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the graft case. Later, she was sent to serve her jail sentence at a special jail in the Old Dhaka central jail building on Nazimuddin Road.
On January 28, 2019, the High Court released the full text of its verdict, raising Khaleda Zia’s prison term in the graft case to 10 years from five years.
Meanwhile, the BNP chief and three others were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in the Zia Charitable Trust case on October 29, 2018.
The ACC filed the case on August 8, 2011, with Tejgaon police against four people, including Khaleda Zia, accusing them of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.