Photo: Collected-
Metropolis Report-
Anisul Huq, the law minister, stated that he has not yet received the file on Khaleda Zia’s overseas medical care and suspension of her sentence that was sent from the home ministry.
“I got to know that Begum Khaleda Zia’s brother asked the home ministry to extend the suspension of her conditional jail sentence. The file has been delivered to the law ministry, but it hasn’t reached me yet. Following the law ministry’s proposal, it will be returned to the home ministry. Whatever information is currently being circulated about it is false.”
Anisul Huq made the statement on Thursday, March 9, at a press conference held at the secretariat after some local media outlets claimed that the government had recommended her treatment abroad and had extended the suspension of her sentence by an additional six months.
On March 25, 2020, the government issued an executive order postponing Khaleda Zia’s sentence in response to the coronavirus outbreak, releasing her from custody for six months. Her conditional release from custody in connection with the two corruption charges was repeatedly extended by the administration.
On February 8, 2018, a special court condemned the former prime minister to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. She was then transferred to Old Dhaka Central Prison. Afterward, she was convicted in a second corruption case.
