Law Ministry recommends to extend Khaleda’s suspended prison sentence

Ministry of Law has sent file to the home ministry recommending an extension of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's suspended prison sentence to six months.

Law Minister Anisul Haque has approved the relevant document which has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs today, Public relations officer of the law ministry, Rezaul Karim, informed media. 

Earlier, the family of Khaleda Zia filed a plea with the home ministry seeking an extension of her suspended prison sentence.

According to sources, Khaleda's family has sought permission to do her medical treatment abroad.

The former premier was freed from jail on 25 March after the government had suspended her jail sentence for six months.

Later, her bail period was extended for another six months with the previous conditions remaining unchanged.

Khaleda walked out of jail at a time when the world has been hit by the novel Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the prevailing epidemic, she did not even visit any hospital for treatment. However, doctors visited her at home regularly and gave treatment.

Khaleda landed in jail on 8 February, 2017 after being sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

On 30 October the following year, the High Court enhanced her punishment to 10 years after dismissing her appeal in the case.