Khaleda Zia won't be sent to jail before election: Law minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq today (October 27, 2022) said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not be sent to jail before the next parliamentary election though she has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonments in two corruption cases.

"The government has released her (Khaleda Zia) on two conditions after suspending her jail sentence as per section 401 (1) of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC). The government has no plan to change this decision before the next election," he said while replying to queries from reporters after attending as chief guest at a training programme organised for the sub registrars at Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.

The government on September 19 extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia's jail sentence for six more months.

Khaleda was freed from jail on March 25, 2020 after the government suspended her jail sentence for six months.

She walked out of jail at a time when the world was hit by Covid-19 pandemic.

Khaleda landed in jail on February 8, 2017, after being sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. On October 30 the following year, the High Court enhanced her punishment to 10 years after dismissing her appeal in the case.

The former prime minister was convicted by another special court in Dhaka in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case on October 29, 2018. She was sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by the court.

Today, Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters that a bill on the amendment of law for holding trial of Jamaat-e-Islami as a war criminal organisation will be placed before Jatiya Sangsad soon.

Replying to another question, Anisul Huq said the government is waiting for the Election Commission's decision about the reported application of Jamaat-e-Islami in the name of a new political party for registration.